Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, situated about 300km away from the African coast and 1300 km from the Spanish mainland. It has an area of 2,034km2 with the gigantic Pico Del Teide (a dormant volcano) reaching 3,718 meters making it the highest point in all of Spain.

Tenerife’s mild sunny climate and its well maintained resorts are the main draw for tourists. Its varied landscapes and sandy beaches draw millions of tourists from across Europe every year.

Additional tourist attractions include water parks, catamaran boat rides to see dolphins and whales and Loro Parque one of the most spectacular zoo’s in Europe.

Tenerife is a volcanic island that is made of 31 municipalities. The view of landscapes varies across them all. In the north there is more traditional atmosphere and a more cosmopolitan air in the south.

Both in the north and south of the island there are many wildlife and nature parks to visit and many attractions to see. The climate in Tenerife is said to be one of the best in the world, maintaining a steady 21 – 30 degrees all year round.

Tenerife is much more than sun and beaches; it is a cultural mixture and above all the bridge to Latin America. You will live its pleasant temperatures throughout the year, forget about the winter and enjoy the sun from every corner. You will enjoy the musical accent of its people that is reminiscent of the ‘Guanches’ who inhabited the island long ago and marvel at the magnificent Teide volcano, which seems to guard the island from the heights. Once you have arrived, you will find it hard to leave."

• Population: 838,877
• Area: 2,034km2
• Location: Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Spanish Conquest: 1495 AD
• There are two international airports in Tenerife. Reina Sofia (south) and Los Rodeos (north).
• Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Island archipelago.
• Tenerife called “the island of eternal spring”, the average temperature here is 27 degrees Celsius.
• A mountain chain runs through the centre of the island. In the heart of this chain, there is a gigantic crater called Las Cañadas, the remnants of a long extinct volcano.
• Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, now sits in this crater and rises to a height of 3,718m. Las Cañadas and Mount Teide offer one of the most spectacular landscapes of the world.

• Tenerife has beaches with soft, clean sand that is sometimes black (from its volcanic origin) and sometimes golden.
• One of the most attractive and popular sites of the whole island is The Loro Parque with magnificent botanical gardens, the largest aquarium with penguins in Europe and exciting attractions.
• The carnival of Tenerife is a world-famous festivity and takes place all over the island but it shines with all its splendour in Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz.
• Tenerife is an authentic paradise for Windsurfing and Scuba diving.

Article submitted on 2007-08-23