A Top Vacation Destinations
Believe it, for it’s absolutely possible. Well, not really to the moon, but a moon-like landscape with amazing craters that dots the lands as you explore the islands. And it’s not just barren craters, but a chance to see different plants and flowers as you walk through lush, green forests. For the adventurous and sporty tourists, they can use quad bikes to travel the large sand dunes of the islands’ deserts. Your Canary Islands holidays may end at the top of a mountain, marveling at the stars above.
Scientists believe that the Canary Islands were formed millions of years ago. The Canary Islands’ mountains and volcanoes were product of the collisions between moving Earth crusts. You will see all these moon-like landscapes when you’re on your Canary Islands holidays. Small volcanic activities sometimes occur on the islands, reminder of its more violent past. Archeologists discovered that Guanches, people from the northeast part of Africa, came to the islands about 3,000 BC ago. These first inhabitants were most likely the people that the Romans saw in 40 BC.
There are seven main islands comprising the Canaries. Each of the capital cities of the islands of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife are also the canaries’ capital cities. The island of Tenerife is perfect for vacationers who love water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling. Gran Canaria island is dotted with magnificent woodlands and stretches of beautiful beaches. But Gran Canaria is also known for its dramatic volcanic craters, huge desert dunes, steep mountain peaks and a lot more. Your Canary Islands holidays will be memorable enough if you were to visit these two islands only, but of course, the other islands have other things to offer.
Amazing pristine white beaches, rich cultural and historical sites, diverse landscape, and lively festivals are not just what Canary Islands holidays is all about, there are a lot more. For example, did you know that the famous Spanish film director Pedro Almodvar chose the island of Lanzarote as the natural set for his film “Broken Embraces”? Pedro Almodvar, the famed Spanish film director, used the island of Lanzarote as his backdrop for his film “Broken Embraces”. There’s that so called “whistling language”, communicating through whistling, that is unique to the island. The UNESCO recognized the islands as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Canaries is also credited as the world pioneer in making sea water drinkable.
Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra once sang “fly me to the moon, let me sing among those stars…” while probably dreaming of Canary Islands holidays. You can also ask where else best to sing that song than on the Canaries. Arguably, the popularity of this song is surpassed only by the popularity of Canary Islands holidays. This high mountain peak is a romantic getaway for people who wants to have the clearest view of the stars at night.
The Canary Islands holidays is one holiday that you can enjoy with the whole family.
Tags: Beaches, canaries, canary islands, canary islands holidays, countries, destinations, getaways, holidays, islands, locations, Spain, Tourism, travel, Vacations, Vacations Spain
April 11, 2008
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, are really a group of seven islands that are volcanic in origin. They are actually located south west of Spain and north west of Africa and enjoy the mild weather patterns that exist through the coastal areas off Morocco. Historically they have served as a stopping off point for explorers from Spain that were heading for the New World and were also a resort type location for traveling dignitaries and famous people throughout history. The actual name of the Canary Islands is not believed to be from birds as may be expected, but rather from canines or dogs, which in Latin is Insula Canaria. Early Roman explorers likely were referring to the large wild dog populations found on several of the islands in the group. It is also believed in legend and myth that the lost city of Atlantis is located within the geographic area of the Canary Islands, further adding to the mystery of the location.
The seven islands that make up the Canary Island chain are La Palma, Hierro, Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Each of the islands has its own cultural influences and special attractions, but in general the year round weather and beautiful scenery make all the islands popular tourist destinations. The average yearly temperature in the islands is between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for year round outdoor swimming, hiking and enjoyment. Most of the islands have moderate to light rainfall during the year with no typically rainy seasons or poor vacation times. (more…)
Tags: canaries, canary islands, regions-of-spain