Spaans leren op de Canarische Eilanden

Some facts and history about the Canary Islands and some suggestions about interesting places to visit:

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago which constitutues one of the Spanish Autonomous Communities and an Outermost Region of the European Union. This paradisiac group of islands, enjoying a wonderful climate, with a constant mild temperature through all the year, and splendid beaches of fine sand, consists of 7 larger islands and a few smaller ones. Surprisingly, the landscape of each island is radically different to the others. The islands represent a major tourist destination, being visited each year by about 12 million people. Among the islands, Tenerife has the highest number of tourists received annually, followed by Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. The archipelago's principal tourist attraction is the Teide National Park (in Tenerife), where the highest mountain in Spain and third largest volcano in the world (Mount Teide) are located; it receives over 2.8 million visitors annually. Show the Canary Islands on the map.

Geography & climate
The Canary Islands are located off the western coast of Africa and their landscape vary from white and gold sandy beaches along crystal clear waters to green mountains and volcanoes. All the islands are mountainous, and have some semidesert regions as well as fertile valleys. Pico de Teide, 3,718 m above sea level, on Tenerife is the highest peak. Rainfall is very light, and there are no rivers. The average temperatures usually vary between 18° to 23°C.

History
The Canary Islands have a wealth of history and to show this there are many museums, castles, monuments and art centers around the archipelago. They take you through the heritage, history and amazing culture of the Canary Islands.

There is a lot of myth to what people believe of the early history of these islands. Some argue that they are the lost islands of Atlantis and others claim that they are known as the “Fortunate Islands” since it was said that their inhabitants had no sorrows.

Already Greeks and Romans reported on this archipelago of volcanic origins, and called it the Happy Islands, Garden of the Hesperides or Atlantida. After the Roman Empire fell in A.D. 476, it took Europe almost 1000 years to remember about the Canaries, until a Mediterranean ship rediscovered them. From then on Portuguese, Italians and Catalans sent their ships to these islands to bring back slaves and fur to their countries.

During the beginning of the fifteenth century, the conquest of these islands began, but it was fiercely resisted by the natives. The success of the Spanish invasion meant that many of the Guanches, the islands' original population, were killed. Some of them committed suicide rather than surrender to the Spanish conquistadors. However, those who did survive were forced into becoming slaves and converting to Christianity and eventually, died out.

In 1927 the archipelago was divided into two separate provinces:  the Western Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (chief town Santa Cruz), and the Eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (chief town Las Palmas).

About the economy of the Canary Islands
The economy is based primarily on tourism, which makes up 32% of the GDP. The Canaries receive about 10 million tourists per year. Construction makes up nearly 20% of the GDP and tropical agriculture, primarily bananas and tobacco, are grown for export to Europe and the Americas.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the Canary Islands are:
• Garajonay National Park in La Gomera
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna and
• Teide National Park

Some of the most important cultural traditions on the Canary Islands are:
• International Deep Sea Game Fishing Open (Fuerteventura)- Since 1995, the Gran Tarajal marina has been the venue for a large number of boats ...
• Around the island in kayak  (Fuerteventura)This event is divided into 8 stages and covers 330 km of coastline.
• Caballos Fufos - Festivities in Honour of San Miguel Arcángel (La Palma) takes place at the end of September, during the festivities of San Miguel ...
• Aguaviva Festival (Tenerife) is a platform with a social vocation promoting environmental protection ...
• Los Silos International Story Festival (Tenerife) is an oral narration event that has already reached its fifteenth edition.
• Calender of events Water Sports Experience (Canary Islands) from the 1st of January until the end of December
• Apañadas (Fuerteventura) is held from the 1st of June until the end of July. Local shepherds get together to celebrate...
• Five-yearly Festivity in Honour of Virgen del Carmen (La Gomera) - Vallehermoso celebrates its five-yearly festivities in 2010.
• World Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Championship (Fuerteventura) starts in the second half of July and ends in August. It is organized on one of the most impressive beaches in Fuerteventura.
• Atlantic Festival of Sound 2010 (La Gomera) takes place in July and is related to new world music and health therapies.
• Christopher Columbus Festivity 2010 (La Gomera) commemorates the day when Admiral Christopher Columbus sailed from the port of San Sebastián de La Gomera towards the New World ...
• Pilgrimage of Los Dolores and Crafts Fair (Lanzarote) is held every year in September in Mancha Blanca.
• Virgen del Pino festivities in Teror (Gran Canaria)- The most important festival of sacred origin is in honour of Virgen del Pino, on 8th of September in Terror.

The Cuisine of the Canary Islands .
Although Canarian cuisine has its own identity, you will find it contains the influences of the various cultures that have left their mark on this Atlantic archipelago. The main influence must be the Spanish tradition, but you will notice also those of the Americas, Africa, and of course, the tradition inherited from the earliest inhabitants of the islands. Because of this, it is easy to see that Canarian cooking is more than a question of food; it is also cultural identity and tradition.

One of the most original and traditional products that you can try here is gofio, corn or wheat that has been ground and toasted, which was eaten by the aborigines and which is still consumed nowadays. There are many ways to cook it; it is most often mixed with fish broth, vegetable soups or even with milk. Another typical dish is the famous papas arrugadas or wrinkly potatoes, eaten with mojo, or spicy sauce, which complements the potatoes when they have been cooked in their skins with a lot of salt.

After you have tried these starters you will enjoy, as a first course, one of the popular Canarian soups made from vegetables or watercress; or, if you prefer, a good fish bouillon or potato or corn broth. For the second course you can choose between one of the many types of fresh fish that are caught in the waters off the Canary Islands, such as cherne, or between different types of meat cooked in various ways, including pork, rabbit, goat or chicken.

And to round off this exquisite, healthy meal, there is nothing better than choosing one of the delicious desserts that the varied and appetizing Canarian confectionery has to offer, while those with less of a sweet tooth can decide to try the fruits of the islands, such as the famous banana, or the wide range of tropical fruit such as papayas, avocados or mangos. Of course one should not forget the prestigious cheeses and wines made in the Canary Islands, internationally recognized, and winners of various prizes and classified as Denomination of Origin (2 different cheeses and 10 different wines).