It´s Carnival time in the Canary Islands this month. As a wave of celebration engulfs these seven specks of Spain. Located just off the coast of West Africa.

And whilst the revelry may not be as raucous as Rio, Carnival is still a big noise on islands such as Lanzarote. Spanning weeks of serious partying and effectively closing many businesses and local government offices down. As workers swap their desks for costumes and masks.

Carnival was first introduced to the Canary Islands by the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th Century. As they swept west from Lanzarote to subdue the indigenous Guanche population of the seven islands. And was a tradition that had in turn been inherited from the last days of the Roman Empire.

The purpose of Carnival was to allow people to blow off steam and let down their hair before the onset of Lent. Which spelled 40 days of sacrifice and deprivation. And as such can in fact be viewed retrospectively as a form of social safety valve. Not least as the fiesta also cut across social divisions – allowing all classes to mix on an equal footing behind the cover of costumes.

Today, Carnival in the Canaries retains a strong Latin American influence. Thanks to the fact that the islands were once an important staging post on the trade routes between the Old World and the New. Acting as a place where Spanish galleons transporting Inca gold and silver could off load and refuel. Before transporting African slaves back to South America in the opposite direction. Making the Canaries a melting pot of cultural influences.
continue reading "Carnival Time In the Canary Islands"

Gran Canaria lies in a part of the Atlantic known as Macaronesia, which includes the archipelagos of Madeira, Salvajes, Azores and Cape Verde. The closest point on the African coast lies approximately 210 kilometres away, while Cadiz, the closest port on the European continent, lies 1,250 kilometres away. Within the archipelago, Gran Canaria lies between Fuerteventura and Tenerife, lying at a distance of 83 kilometres to the west of Fuerteventura and 62 kilometres to the east of Tenerife.

Being of volcanic origin, Gran Canaria´s 1,560 square kilometres of surface area and 236 kilometres of coastline encompass a great many of the varied landscapes that are found in the archipelago.
continue reading "Where is Gran Canaria Located?"

Gran Canaria, along with Tenerife, is located in the centre of the Canary Islands’ archipelago. The ‘round island’ – so called because of its circular shape – is 47 km (29 miles) wide and covers an area of 1,532 sq km. Its highest peak, Pozo de Las Nieves (1949 m/6431 ft above sea level), is situated right in the centre of the island.Gran Canaria belongs to an area of the Atlantic Ocean, known as ‘Macaronesia’, which includes the Canary Islands as well as the archipelagos of Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde and part of Morocco. The nearest point on the African coast is approx. 210 km (131 miles) away, while Cadiz, the closest port on the European continent, lies about 1250 km (781 miles) north of Gran Canaria.

If you need more statistic about Gran Canaria, please visit http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/