GRAN CANARIA WIKI

Any good Gran Canaria Wiki should start with the beginning: The Canary Islands emerged from the seas due to subaquatic volcanic eruptions around 35 millions years ago. Different eruptive phases and erosion shaped the nature of the islands throughout millions of years. Recent research in regions with recent volcanic eruptions give us clues of how biological live started making its way after the creation of the islands. 

The first historical reference of the Canary Islands so far is from the 8th century B.C. The Greeks mentioned the islands with beautiful metaphore-like descriptions. It was probably one of these ancient civilizations that used to rule the seas, the first one to come in contact with the islands. However none of them settled here. The Guanches, the aborigins of the Canary Islands were the first to settle here around the 1st century B.C. They came from North Africa bringing with them a lot of mystical traditions. How they got here remains a mystery until today, although we have some very good theories about it. They lived a peaceful life isolated from the rest of the world for almost 15 centurys until the Spaniards arrived in the 15th century. 

And there is where the second chapter of this Gran Canaria Wiki and of our history starts: with the conquest of the Canary Islands representing the birth of the Spanish Empire. Las Palmas was the first colonial city founded in the Atlantic and it was the model for many other cities in LatinAmerica afterwards. Columbus stayed in Las Palmas just before discovering America and transfomed the islands into the gate between Europe and America. Discover Gran Canaria History!

The Canary Islands have the best climate in the world. You have probably heard this statement. Is not just some catchy line we made up for marketing purposes. It's the result of cientific research that has pointed to the islands in the quest for the ideal weather on earth. 

And it is not merely chance. There are many factors that influence positively our weather and turn the islands, like the Greeks stated milleniums ago, into paradise on earth. 

Our latitude on the globe, the volcanic relief of the islands and the constant wind originating at the Azores anticyclone build a perfect mix of factors resulting in the best weather possible. Mild temperatures around 20ºC to 25ºC all year long. No heat waves in summer, and no winter. Find out more about Gran Canaria Climate in this Gran Canaria Wiki.

The best climate of the world results in spectacular weather averages all year long. Lets start with the less obvious in this Gran Canaria Wiki: the summer. Temperatures rise in summer in the Canary Islands like anywhere else. However the constant winds coming from the north refresh the islands and keep the temperatures around 25ºC and 30ºC. Even though temperatures can rise, in general and for the biggest part of the summer they stay in this range. Way below the heat waves that cover Europe in this period. 

The temperatures stay high in the months of September, October and November. A dream come true to be swimming with over 25ºC in November. 

In the period between December and February temperatures fall. However normally not below 17ºC-18ºC. During this winter period there is an alternance of hotter days with 25ºC and colder days with 18ºC. In general winters in the islands have two-year cycles. There are years where you don't even feel the winter, and other colder years with temperatures going down to 15ºC-16ºC. All in all, the best weather you can imagine in Europe. 

In spring we go back to our usual temperature of 20ºC to 25ºC. Going to the beach, hiking, running, working... all with the perfect temperature any time of the year. Check Gran Canaria weather averages for each month in this Gran Canaria Wiki.

All Canary Island have a volcanic origin. And as volcanic islands you can see the results of their origin everywhere. Even though Gran Canaria is one of the few island without historic eruptions - that have been witnessed by someone who wrote about it-, signs of the volcanos that created and shaped the island can be enjoyed as a key element of the island's nature. 

Some younger facts of this Gran Canaria Wiki: Scientists believe that the Bandama crater is the youngest volcano on the island and that it exploded aorund 2.000 years ago. You can hike around or in the crater of this volcano close to Las Palmas. The highest cliff in Europe can be found on the NorthWest coast of the island. It is the start of a breathtaking chain of cliffs that were forged by the eruptions that created the island together with the erosion by the sea throughout millions of years. Canyons, craters, cliffs... in all shapes and colors all over the island. 

Maybe you don't need this Gran Canaria Wiki to know that the highest peak of the island is Pico de Las Nieves at 1.949 meters. You can easliy reach it by car to enjoy the best view of the island, which includes the highest peak in Spain: the Mount Teide in Tenerife (3.714 meters). Other peaks on the island like Roque Nublo or Roque Bentayga are the result of very aggresive volcanos. 

But, did you know that the island of Gran Canaria was created around a centric volcanic eruption. This is why it has a circular form. The islands with a different shape had more than one eruptive centers when they were created. Thus, no matter where you are on the island the island grows more and more when you go from the coast to the inner part. 

The capital of Gran Canaria is the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, located in the north-east corner of the island, just a 20 minutes drive from the airport. From the touristic cities in the south you need 45 minutes with the direct bus or the car. 

It is the capital of the island and of the province of Las Palmas which includes Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. One key fact of this Gran Canaria Wiki: Las Palmas is one of the Top 10 biggest cities in Spain and counts with a population of almost half a million. Las Palmas offers anything a big city offers: enough living space, green areas, businesses, public transport options, a beautiful historic city centre....and a great city beach. Las Canteas is 4 km long and has a natural reef in 3/4 of the beach creating two unique bathing areas. One that is great for surfers with big waves, and another one where the water is very quiet. In this quiet area of the beach snorkling is simply great. 

One of many actual facts of this Gran Canaria Wiki: Around 40% of the Canary economy is based on tourism. Hotels of all types, excursions, museums, activities, shops... The tourism in Gran Canaria is constantly being diversified: surfing tourism, diving tourism, Spanish learning tourism, hiking tourism... There is something for everybody.