By : Jose , Sergio and Samuel L.

EUROPEGran Canaria is in the Southwest of Spain,

and in front of Africa

Map of SpainGran Canaria is part of Spain and part of

Europe.

Map of the Canary IslandsThe Canary Islands has got two capital cities

Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The latter consists on Gran

Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Map of Gran CanariaGran Canaria is one of the seven islands of

our archipelago. They all have volcanic origin. This is where we live.

Map of AgüimesAgüimes is a municipality belonging to the Spanish province of Las Palmas. It is located

in the southeast of the island of Gran Canaria It has several protected natural

areas, we will see later on.

Agüimes coat of arms

National Parks in the Canary Islands

Canary Islands officially has four national parks. Two of them have

been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the other two

declared a World Biosphere Reserve.These national parks are:

Garajonay National Park. World Heritage Site (La Gomera)

Caldera de Taburiente National Park (La Palma)Timanfaya National Park, (Lanzarote)Teide National Park. World Heritage Site (Tenerife)

In Gran Canaria there isn’t any National Park.

Garajonay National ParkGarajonay National Park covers an area of more than 10% of the island of La Gomera. It was declared as such in 1981. Later, in 1986, Unesco included it among the assets which

form part of a World Heritage Site.

Caldera de TaburienteIt is located in the island of

La Palma. It has a volcanic origin.

It contains the enormous expanse of the Caldera de Taburiente, once believed to be a huge crater, but nowadays known to be a mountain arch with a curious crater shape, which dominates the northern part of the island. It was designated as a national park in 1954.

TimanfayaIt is located in Lanzarote. In 1993, UNESCO

designated it as Biosphere reserve. It is a volcanic landscape

The parkland is entirely made up of volcanic soil. The statue "El Diablo" by César Manrique is its symbol.

Teide National ParkIt is located in TenerifeIt was declared National

Park in 1954, the Parque Nacional de las Cañadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater 48 km in circumference, out of which rises Mount Teide (3.718 metres), making it the highest mountain in the whole of Spain.

Natural Parks in Gran Canaria

Bandama Natural ParkCaldera de Bandama, is a

volcanic crater – 1000 m in diameter and 200 m deep – with a 569 m high peak, the Pico de Bandama.

It is located in Gran Canaria.

Its peak has an observation platform, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the entire north and east coast and towards the mountainous centre in the west.

You might even get to see the neighbouring island Fuerteventura in the north east.

Maspalomas DunesThe Dunes of

Maspalomas are one of the most famous sights on the south coast. The large sand waves are covering an area of 4 sqkm between Playa de Inglés and Maspalomas.

La Charca de Maspalomas constitutes a very rich ecosystem in the island.

Roque NubloIt is the symbol of Gran

Canaria. It is is a monolith feature

that is 80 m tall. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the island of Gran Canaria.

It also has volcanic origin.

Montaña de ArinagaIt has also a volcanic

origin. We see it every day because it is in the place where we live.

It was used as a military base in the past.