Gran Canaria
| Coat of Arms | Flag |
|---|---|
| N/A |  |
| Statistics | |
| Province | Las Palmas |
| Capital: | Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |
| Location: Latitude: Longitude: | 27°57" N lat.</br>15°35" W long |
| Population: (2005) - Total - Density - Rank | 802,257 514.27/km²</small> |
| Elevation: -lowest: -centre: -highest: | Atlantic Ocean 5 m (centre) 1,949 (Pico de Las Nieves) |
| Number of municipalities: | 21 |
| Postal code: | E-350xx |
| Car designation: | GC |
| Website: | www.grancanaria.com |
Gran Canaria, rarely Grand Canary (archaic), is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin.
The island was populated by the Guanches, who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Guanches called the island Tamarán. It was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.
Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.
It is divided into twenty-one municipalities:
The island has a population of 802,257 with 378,628 (year 2005) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the biggest city of Canary Islands, also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the two capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, along Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
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Transportation
Gran Canaria has highways encircling the whole island and extending into the mountain areas. In the late 20th century, its superhighways, among the first in the Canary Islands, were opened and ran around Las Palmas, and were later extended to the north coast and the airport and subsequently to the south coast to account for increased tourist traffic. The superhighways are GC1, GC2, and GC31, and divided highways GC4 and GC5. The western and the northwestern parts, with the fewest tourists, are linked only with highways.
Tourism
This island is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found. The island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny. The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the western coast is rockier and mountainous.
Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. There is a large bird park, Palmitos Park, in the south of the island, as well as many beach resort communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, and Maspalomas where most tourists visit. The Dunes of Maspalomas are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Another tourist attraction is the Lighthouse at Maspalomas situated at the western end of Maspalomas.
Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European gays with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the Yumbo Centrum shopping center. A gay beach is found near the Maspalomas Dunes.
Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of Arguineguin in the Municipality of Mogán. The market, which is held on Tuesdays, is the largest on the island.
Still further to the west along the southern shore, also in the Municipality of Mogán are the communities of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán, a picturesque village referred to as "Little Venice" on account on its many canals.
The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life and the beach Las Canteras is located in the heart of the city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also known for its annual Carnaval.
The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000). Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island.
Other attractions include Banana Park, Roque Nublo (an 80m monolith), Cenebio de Valerón with about 290 caves, Cueva Pintada the most important archaeological park in Canary Islands and the botanical garden Jardin Canario in Tafira Alta. El Dedo de Dios, or "God's Finger" was a rocky spire jutting from the sea in Puerto de las Nieves, and was previously the signature attraction of the Canary Islands. With its numerous off shore underwater attractions, scuba diving gear, guides, and course are readily available to take in the full beauty of the island.
See also
External links
- Pictures of Gran Canaria
- Biofhere reserve of Gran Canaria
- Museum and archaeological park Cueva Pintada
- Cabildo de Gran Canaria
- Gran Canaria Tourist Portal
- Watch from above Gran Canaria points of interests and add your preferred ones (map provided by Google)
Islands of the Canary Islands |
Provinces of the Canary Islands |
| Territories under European sovereignty but closer to continents other than Europe (see inclusion criteria for further information) | |
| Denmark | Greenland |
| France | Clipperton Island • French Guiana • French Polynesia • French Southern and Antarctic Lands • Guadeloupe • Martinique • Mayotte • New Caledonia • Réunion • Saint-Pierre and Miquelon • Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean • Wallis and Futuna |
| Italy | Pantelleria • Pelagie Islands |
| Netherlands | Aruba • Netherlands Antilles |
| Norway | Bouvet Island |
| Portugal | Azores • Madeira |
| Spain | Ceuta • Melilla • Plazas de soberanía • Canary Islands |
| United Kingdom | Anguilla • Bermuda • British Virgin Islands • Cayman Islands • Falkland Islands • Montserrat • Saint Helena • Tristan da Cunha • Turks and Caicos Islands • British Indian Ocean Territory • Pitcairn Islands • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
Categories
Islands of the Canary Islands | Gran Canaria