Lanzarote - the lunar landscape on Earth! Part I

Lanzarote is a unique island with beaches of golden sand, transparent turquoise waters and spectacular volcanic landscapes. It is an ideal destination for your holidays with an excellent climate throughout the year. It is the third most populated island of the Canary Islands, and also one of the driest: its volcanic aspect is completed by golden beaches that populate the sands of the Sahara desert and a landscape that could well be the Moon.

Lanzarote is located in this ocean, about 140 kilometers from the northwestern coast of the African continent. The island is one of the seven Canary Islands that form the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The Island of the volcanoes was originated by the effect of the geological processes derived from the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. It is estimated that about 11 million years ago lava emissions began to surface.

Lanzarote was declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1993. 43% of the surface of the island is protected territory.

The climate of the island is defined as subtropical and dry or sub-desert. Thanks to the moderating action of the Atlantic, temperatures are very stable. There are no abrupt variations between seasons. The average annual temperature moves around 20º. As for rainfall, they do not usually exceed 100 liters per square meter throughout the year.

The climate of Lanzarote, like that of Fuerteventura, is somewhat warmer than that of the westernmost islands. In winter its temperature is still very pleasant so it becomes another of the great attractions of the island, in addition to its crystal clear waters, its kilometric beaches, its volcanic landscape and the small villages that make it up.

Nowadays, more than two million tourist visit Lanzarote every year.  The main tourist areas are “Playa Blanca”(White Beach)  in the south, “Puerto del Carmen” (Port Carmen)  and “Puerto Calero” (Port Calero)  in the center- south and  “Costa Teguise” (Teguise Coast) in the center- north.

Here are some the highlights of Lanzarote!

Timanfaya National Park 

Timanfaya National Park, also called "The Mountains of Fire", is part of a large area affected by volcanic eruptions occurred in Lanzarote between 1730-1736 and later in the year 1824. This long eruptive process has been one of the most relevant and spectacular of the historical volcanism of the Earth. It dramatically changed the morphology of the island, practically buried a quarter of it under a thick mantle of lava and ash.

The volcanic landscape comprises a total perimeter of 174 km², although the protected area as Timanfaya National Park only covers an area of 51 km², where the most important eruptions happened.

Fire, ash and rock have shaped the only fully geological National Park in Spain. Brown, ocher, orange, reddish, gray and black tones cover a rocky soil devoid of plant life. It is worth taking the bus that runs through the park to get to understand how this extravagance of nature has been formed. If, in addition, you have always been curious to take a ride on the back of a camel, you can do it near the entrance. The ride on camels on the volcano is, without a doubt, one of the most classic pictures of Lanzarote. It combines the exoticism of transport with the spectacle of the environment.

The admission fee to Timanfay National Park  includes a bus tour of the volcanoes route and geothermal demonstrations. The best time to visit the park and avoid large the queues, especially during the summer, is in the morning.

Timanfaya is visited annually by almost one million people.

Jameos de Agua

The Jameos del Agua are located in the north of Lanzarote, specifically, in the municipality of Haría.

They are located inside one of the largest volcanic tubes in the world, originated as a result of the volcanic eruptions of the Corona Volcano.

The term "jameo" is used to designate a volcanic tube to which part of the roof has been detached due to weight or the accumulation of gases, after which there is a circular and open cavity. This was the first tourist attraction made by César Manrique in 1968. It has an area of 100 meters long and 30 meters wide.

The visitor's route leads to a huge cave with a mysterious salt lake, home to small albino crabs and transparent waters connected to the ocean. From here, the winding paths will guide you towards a contrasting world full of lush plants, cleverly located around El Jameo Grande: a picturesque emerald green pond. The far end opens to an underground auditorium with 550 seats, frequently used for concerts, shows and meetings: a unique environment, famous for its excellent acoustics.