CANARY
ISLANDS
The Canary Islands lie near the northern
coast of Africa surrounded by the Atlantic
Ocean. The islands autonomous region
is made up of seven large islands:
Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria,
Lanzarote, La Palma, la Gomera and
el Hierro. and other smaller ones,
such as Graciosa, Alegranza and Lobos.
The coasts are blessed with vast sandy
beaches full of outstanding reefs,
capes and bays. Nevertheless in some
areas along the western and northern
coasts of Gran Canaria, there are many
cliffs and steep rock faces. The Canary
Islands is characterised by its volcanic
scenery. This can be divided into three
different regions: the central islands,
the eastern islands and the western
islands. The volcanic activity of the
past has created a most peculiar landscape
on the islands, with craters, volcanic
cones, volcanic rocks, tubes etc. The
island's most emblematic natural landscape
has to be mount Teide which, standing
at 3,718 metres high, is the tallest
mountain in Spain. In order of importance
are Blanca mountain (2,743 metres)
and Viejo peak (3,100 metres). The
island's geography and low rainfall
ensure that there are no major rivers
of note.
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