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GRAN CANARIA ISLAND

                                                        

Gran Canaria, some 60 miles off the African coast, is on the 28th parallel where the prevailing trade winds give it a spring-like climate with optimum hours of sunshine daily, all year through. Mean temperatures are some 24ºC in summer and 19ºC in winter. The roughly circular island of Gran Canaria has a diameter of 49 kilometres with 1.532 kilometres of surface area and 236 lilometres of beachy coastline.

The island is ideally situated in relation to all European countries generating tourism antheir capital cities between two andfive hours by plane will get any European to this tourist paradise.

With regard to America, Gran Canaria is only a six-hour direct flight away from New York.

The southern coastline has fine beaches with golden sands, of with its wonderful sand-dunes, are outstanding esamples. The clean, clear water has year round temperatures of between 20 and 24 degrees.

The rugged North coast, by contrast, has impressive cliffs of volcanic rock with small coves of deep blue waters.

The island centre has dense and varied vegetation going from mixed scrub and euphorbia in the lower reaches, through evergreen trees half-way up the slopes to the pine woodland of Canary pine in the island’s peak district. The sharpy varied scehery more than justifiers Gran Canaria’s nickname of “Miniature Continent”.

 

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is set on the coast, on the north-west tip of the island, less than twenty kilometres from the airport, The American manazine Consumer Travel Association  declared the city one of the top ten cities in the world with the best climate. The acccess motorway runs along the shore around the old quarters with a wiew of the mountains of La Isleta, wich enclose and protect the migthy Puerto de la Luz harbour, the commercial heart of the archipielago that is the main base for the fishing fleets working the Saharan bank, one of the richest ficheries in the world. European an Asian-Japanese and Korean- fleets stop over here, as it is a vital link on the intercontinental shipping lanes.

The history of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has always been linked to its port; ever since it was founded in 1478 by Juan Rejón. He was a captain from the  Kingdom of Castile who established the camp on the right bank of the Guiniguada Ravine that was used as a bridge head for conquering the island. Nowadays, the church of San Antonio Abad and the Columbus Museum stand on the site, in the distict of Vegueta. It look the invading Castilian troops six years to conquer Gran canaria, which, like the other islands in the group, was inhabited by aboriginal natives who were still living in pre-historic societies in the XV century.

Shortly after it was founded, after the conquest was completed in 1483, the city spread from the original site over to the other side of the ravine, thus forming the district of Triana.

 

Cosmopolitan city that offer a extensive cultural variety; museums, theatres, exhibition halls, monuments, festivals, moreover of  conference centres, shopping areas and three beautifull beaches.

Las Canteras beach

This is considered one of the best beaches in the world because of its natural conditions an exceptional location. It is a three-kilometre long cove of golden sand. There is a natural

bar, two houndred yards long, which protects from the waves. The temperate waters make swimming a pleasure in winter and summer, and it is ideal for all kinds of water sports. The busting Paseo de Las Canteras promenade runs  along  next to the beach, full of terrace, cafes and restaurants.

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