Canary Islands

The Canary Islands is an archipelago and autonomous community of Spain, located in the Atlantic Ocean, opposite West Africa. The Canary Islands are of volcanic origin and sit on the African tectonic plate that forms part of the natural region of Macaronesia. The Canary Islands are made up of eight islands, five islets and various rocks and, of course, the sea. The islands are: Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera, in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. While Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are in the province of Las Palmas. Besides these eight main islands, there are other uninhabited islets such as Montaña Clara, Alegranza, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Lobos, and several adjacent rock formations: Salmor, Bonanza, Fasnia, Garachico and Anaga, all in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, again while Roques de Gando and the Farallón de Sardina, in Gran Canaria. This archipelago lies within the Canarian waters and is the only Spanish autonomous community that includes the sea as part of its territory.