TRAVEL GUIDES DIRECTORY: ISLANDS
Spain encompasses two large groupings of islands, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Though tourists go to both for the same reasons, they are very different islands.
The Balearic Islands comprise of three major islands, Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, plus three smaller pieces of land by the names of Formentera, Cabrera and the uninhabited Dragonera. They lie off the Spanish coast between France and the coast of northern Africa. Every year the Spanish islands are a magnet for millions of travellers.
All of the Spanish islands are so very different from each other that you can guarantee you will find what you want in one of them.
The seven islands that make up the Canary Islands are located more than 1,000 kilometres south of the Iberian peninsula and only 115 kilometres from the nearest point of the African coast. Their volcanic origin and their special position in the Atlantic Ocean have given these Spanish islands a unique character. The resulting landscape is unlike any other found in Europe or Africa.
The seven most important islands are Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, Tenerife and Gomera.
Since ancient times the climate has been the most outstanding attribute of the islands. It has been described as perpetual springtime. The fame of the Canary Islands as a travel destination began in the 18th century when Europeans began to visit the volcanic landscapes. The Canary islands are currently one of the top destinations for European tourism, welcoming more than 8 million visitors a year.
The Canary islands present more than 1,100km (930 miles) of coastline, most of which comprises of magnificent beaches.
The ocean between the islands is a deep blue colour due to the depth of up to 3,000 metres. Much of the sand on the beaches is pure white. Some of the beaches in Tenerife are covered with golden sand, imported from the Sahara desert. The temperatures here are mild, rarely going below 19ºC in winter or above 25ºC in the summer.
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