| The consistent warm climate makes Gran Canaria a particularly popular holiday destination. With an endless supply of sandy beaches and unique dunes, dramatic mountainous interior, desert like dunes and acres of lush green vegetation, Gran Canaria is the most scenic of all of the Canary Islands and also the most developed. The Canaries Archipelago consist of seven large and six smaller islands based in the Atlantic Ocean, lying approximately 100km off the North West coast off Africa ( Morocco and Western Sahara ) and about 1100km from the Spanish mainland ( Cadiz ). The Canary Islands are split into 2 Spanish provinces; The Westerly Islands of Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro from the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife ( chief town Santa Cruz ) while the Eastern Islands of Gran Canaria, FuerteVentura and Lanzarote from the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ( chief town Las Palmas ).
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Although smaller than both Tenerife and Fuerteventura, it is home to half the entire population of the archipelago. Its superb climate and diversity of natural features has helped make it one of the most popular year-round holiday destinations in the world. Whatever your age and whoever you may be traveling with there will be something for everyone on the island of Gran Canaria.
There are many interesting towns to visit including:
Puerto de Las Nieves is one mile west of the resort, Agaete and is Agaete's harbour. From Puerto de Las Nieves you can get to Santa de la Cruz in Tenerife, which has made the resort become increasingly popular with tourists especially since the opening of the ferry line.
Santa Maria de Guia was formally part of the town of Galdar, but through out
the years Galdar developed and so did Santa Maria de Guia into their own little, charming characteristic towns !
Galdar is quite a large town, extending from the foot of the Pico de Galdar
volcano and situated on the Northern coast of Gran Canaria.
San Bartolome de Tirajana is small Historic town in the Southern inland town in Gran Canaria. It is the town that has the administrative centre for the majority of the southern coastal region.
Telde is in the South East of Gran Canaria you will find the historical town of
Teide. about just eight miles from the South of Las Palmas - Gran Canaria's Capital.
Fataga is a small mountainous village, it is considered the most beautiful village on the island, picturesque and charming, with traditional rural houses, a little church and cobbled streets, with a setting of cliffs, palm and fruit trees.
Arucas is a large town in Northern Gran Canaria close to Las Palmas the capital.
History / Places of Interest
Gran Canaria ( originally named Tamarán ) forms part of the Canary Islands
along with Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gomera, La Palma and Hierro. The southern point of Gran Canaria is only 210 km from the western Sahara. The
island itself is 1,250 km away from mainland Spain and covers an area of approximately 592 square miles.
Gran Canaria is also known as the " continent in miniature " due to its variety of climate and landscapes ranging from a mountainous, alpine region with heights of 6,400 feet and an alpine climate. Originally the islands were all of volcanic origin, hence the mountainous terrain The north-west is greener still whilst the south remains arid and even desert like with the famous sand dunes of Maspalomas.
The western coast has a series of mountains and cliffs along it whereas the east is more level. It is here that most of the tourist resorts have been established reaching to the far north and the capital city of Las Palmas.
Weather
The weather in Gran Canaria is very similar to the rest of the Canary islands with
a wonderful warm climate throughout the year! During the winter months the temperature varies between 18-20 degrees Celsius and for the rest of the year 22 degrees Celsius and up !
Sometimes the trade winds that come in from the north east build up at the 'Cumbre ' and lie like a thick carpet at approximately 1,700 m altitude over the north of the island. This causes the south of the island to be quite dry and very lacking in rain, whereas in the north it is green with sheep and goats feasting on the vegetation.
Population / Demographics
Size: 1.553 sqkm
Population: approx. 741.161 as at the yea 2000.
Economy
As on all the other bigger islands of the archipelago, Gran Canaria's economy is based with an 80 per cent income mainly from the tourism industry. This is closely followed by agricultural exports ( tomatoes, bananas, tobacco ).
Unfortunately, although bananas are protected on the Spanish market against foreign suppliers, their cultivation has become uneconomic due to high costs and water shortage. Tomatoes are grown on a fairly large scale mainly for export between November and April.
Transport
Taxis - Look for eggshell-white cars with a red stripe on the sides ( on each front door ). Other signs that might help you recognize a taxi are the letters SP
( meaning " Servicio Público " ) and a green light on top or in the front windscreen
( this green light indicates that the taxi is free ). This is the quickest but most expensive option.
There are frequent bus services between the airport and most of the destinations on the island. The journey to Las Palmas ( north of the island ) takes around 30 minutes and to Playa del Inglés ( south ) around one hour.
There are many international car rental companies on the island as well as many Spanish companies.
Education
Oakley College is a co-educational nursery and primary school catering for 190 pupils, 3-12 years old, of all nationalities. The school follows the British National Curriculum and prepares children to continue their education in English or Spanish secondary school.
The Canterbury School is a co-educational day school offering a British style education based on the National Curriculum for children between the ages of 3 and 18. From the age of six onwards pupils receive instruction in Spanish language, literature, history and geography as stipulated by Spanish law which means that at any moment they may transfer to the Spanish system of education if necessary. |
