Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro and other smaller islands form together the archipelago of the Canary Islands.
It is a part of Spain and the European Union.
Despite this fact the islands are closer to Morocco and geographically they belong to Africa.
These volcanic islands are a real tourist paradise, because they are world famous as the place with the best climate on the Planet Earth.
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Climate of the Canary Islands
These islands are situated near by the North Tropical Circle in the eastern part of the Atlantic.
Usually places in these latitudes has hot and unbearable climate, but the Canary Islands are an exception.
Near by the Islands passes the cold Canary Stream.
The temperature of the sea water varies between 17 and 20 °C all around the year.
It moderates the climate of the islands and because of this reason it is very nice and mild.
The daily temperature varies between 21 °C in January to about 26 °C in July.
Precipitations are usually rare and the weather is dry.
Every year more than 7 million people visit the islands.
During the winter months the Canary Islands are especially attractive.
In January and February when the biggest part of Europe is covered by snow and the Mediterranean offers temperatures around 10 or 15 °C, the Canary Islands are warm and offer good conditions for swimming, diving and out door activities.
As a whole the Canaries offer more bearable climate than the continental parts of Europe.
Despite the islands are part of Africa and are located not far from Sahara, the hot waves are not typical for the archipelago even during the period from June to September.
But the Canary Islands are world famous not only by the best climate conditions.
They offer incredible picturesque landscapes.
Because of the volcanic origin of the islands, the local beaches are in usually covered by black volcanic sand.
But there are also some beaches which are covered by light yellow or beige.
The light sand has brought from the Netherlands and Morocco.
One of these beaches is located in the north – eastern part of Tenerife.
Its name is Las Teresitas. It is favourite place for tourists and citizens of the capital Santa Cruz .
Tenerife
Tenerife is the most populated island in the Canaries.
It has a population of more than 800 000 people.
Most of the towns are concentrated around the coast, because of the mountainous relief of the island.
Here is the highest peak in Spain – the volcano of Teide (3718m).
Because of the specific relief a large part of the territory of Tenerife can not be settled.
Around the ocean coast the climate is warm and dry all year around.
In the higher parts of the island the weather is cooler and wet.
The mountains of Tenerife are usually covered by coniferous forests.
The contrast between coast and mountain is incredible.
Around the coasts you can find palm trees, citruses as well as some tropical species of flowers and bushes.
The mountains are covered by lush, green and fresh forest.
During the winter months in the higher parts of Tenerife you can find thick snow cover and chilly weather.
There are significant differences between the northern and southern part of the island.
The northern coast of Tenerife receives the biggest part of precipitations.
Everything is green and the weather is cooler (of course not cold).
The southern coast is drier and warmer with scarce precipitations.
Away from the coastal areas you can find dry desert areas.
Cacti and date palms are most common species on the territory of these islands.
The Canary Islands are much more than just tourist islands.
They are attractive place for thousands of emigrants from all parts of continental Europe and other places, because of the good life standard and perfect climate.
The locals are nice and friendly.
Because of this reason tens of thousands of foreigners (workers and tourists) feel the Canary Islands as their own home country.
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populated island.
Its capital is Las Palmas. It is a big, cosmopolitan and density populated city in the northern part of the island.
Gran Canaria is not as green as Tenerife, because it is not so mountainous.
Here prevail cacti, date palms and other tropical plant species.
Gran Canaria is more attractive for visitors in the winter when it offers warm weather and sunny beaches.
The island enjoys great climate.
Hurricanes and storms are especially rare and untypical because of the cool waters of the Atlantic.
Gran Canaria and Tenerife are connected by regular ferryboat link.
Las Palmas is typical European city – clean streets, old buildings with Spanish architecture, Mediterranean charm restaurants, luxury hotels, parks with exotic plant species, squares, fountains and so on.
A walk through the streets of Gran Canaria is a perfect occupation for stile and beauty lovers from all around the world.
The beaches of Gran Canaria are black, but there are also some with fine golden sand.
Some of the most beautiful beaches you can find in Maspalomas on the southern coast of the island.
In some parts of Gran Canaria there are not beaches, but black volcanic rocks.
Interesting fact is that the sky above the Canary Islands is very often cloudy around the mountains and some tourists think that there will be rain.
But this is an illusion.
Usually the clouds stay only around the mountain peaks.
Despite of the cloudy sky the chance of rain is insignificant.
La Gomera
La Gomera is located not far from Tenerife.
This is the greenest island of the Canarian archipelago.
It is covered with the only mountainous tropical forest in Europe.
There is a great diversity of plant species.
This is the most beautiful forest on the Canary Islands.
La Gomera enjoys all year around high temperatures, varying between 21°C in January and 29°C in August.
The climate is comparatively dry in summer.
Most of the precipitation falls in the winter.
In the mountains the climate can be chilly during the winter months.
Autumn is the rainiest season (especially October).
Summer can be very dry. Sometimes in July and August there isn’t any rain.
Most of the island is preserved territory.
La Gomera is popular tourist destination.
It is very important destination also visitors of the other islands – Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
The island of La Gomera is not densely populated. It is home to about 22 000 people.
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the most eastern islands of the archipelago.
They have no lush and green forest as La Gomera.
Both Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are similar.
They have typical desert landscape.
Cacti and bushes predominate in the majority of the islands and everything looks like a moonscape.
Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are very interesting to the tourists, because they are sparsely populated and offer wild and unspoiled nature.
Fuerteventura is located just 100 kilometers from the coast of Morocco, Africa.
The population of Lanzarote is approximately 128 000 people.
It is more populated than Fuerteventura – its population is about 95 000.
The islands are really attractive. They receive around 5 000 000 visitors per year.
Fuerteventura offers the best beaches in the archipelago.
Especially the southern part of the island.
The combination of perfect climate, clean air, calmness and deep blue, sky turn these islands into a real paradise.
The average temperatures in Fuerteventura are all year round higher than 20 °C.
The coldest month is January.
The average daily temperature is 21 °C.
The Lanzarote climate is little bit cooler, but this is unnoticeable for the visitors.
The daily temperature in January is around 20 °C.
The summer daily temperatures are around 28 – 29 °C.
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