Situated at a distance of 1000 kilometer of the Spanish peninsula and only 100 km off the coast of Morocco, Lanzarote is the most oriental of the Canary Islands, and the one that has preserved its authenticity unlike any other.
As the other Canary Islands, its geographical situation has blessed it with extraordinary weather conditions, which makes it an island of eternal spring, with average temperatures of 20 degrees in winter and 25 in the summer – a perfect destination for any sort of holiday.
But what distinguishes this beautifull island from its neighbours, is the great care and effort which goes into the preservation of the artistic, cultural and architectural patrimonium. This unchanged outlook gives Lanzarote an uncomparable touch of unity and makes it the Canary Island for romantics.
Geography
The Canary Islands are 1000 km away from the Spanish Peninsula and 100 km off the African Coast.
Lanzarote itself is in the very North East of the Canary Islands. It has an area of approx. 800 sqkm and its relief is low and scarcely mountainous. The highest altitude on the island is of 700 metres above sea level. The island is of volcanic origin and physiognomy.
Weather
The average temperature during the year is 20C/68F, very similar to that of the sea.
The average temperature in August is 24,6C/76,28F and 17C/62,6F in January.
These temperatures are responsible for an extraordinary weather, which is due to both the geographic location and the influence of the sea.
Despite the proximity of the Sahara desert the climate is not desertical thanks to the cold currents proceeding from the Gulf of Mexico.
As rain is very scarce (approx. 86,00 mm/year) sea water must be desalinated.
History
The ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands are generally known as “guanches”. Many vestiges of their way of life still remain. In 1312 the Genoese sailor Lancelotto Malocello disembarked on the island, naming it after himself. The conquest of the Canaries started in 1402, comencing precisely in Lanzarote, which was incorporated to the Kingdom of Spain in that same year.
Biosphere Reserve
Named Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1933, Lanzarote is one of the protected havens that represent the main ecosystems of the world. Lanzarote is a natural sanctuary, an island of which the inhabitants have succeeded in preserving the unique wonders of their island: beaches, rural areas as well as almost “lunar” landscapes.
The international phone code for Spain is (00)34 , the currency is the EURO (€) and electricity is 220V. |
