 The island of Gran Canary is known as ‘The Small Continent’. This is because of its extremely varied landscapes that are overflowing with European, African and even American vegetation.
One of the most impressive features is the mountain range in the island's centre which, reaching a height of around 2,000 metres, is cut by some of the most bizarre and imaginative canyons that Nature could have designed.
There is hardly anywhere else in the world that such different landscapes and microclimates, that are so dramatically distinct, are located in such a small geographic area. Massive mountains, stark deserts and humid tropical forests all vie for attention in one of the smallest natural experiments on the planet.
Gran Canaria is a melting pot not only of civilisations but also of culture and geology. Throughout its history the island has been a port of call for all sorts of sea-farers. All of these people have left a mark of their passing and this has resulted in a rich collection of archaeological, artistic and local heritage that makes Gran Canarias distinctive both from the other islands of the chain and from mainland Spain.
Most of the monuments that seen in Gran Canaria were built after the early 15th century, the period of greatest Spanish expansionism. There are, however, some archaeological sites that were created by early inhabitants of the islands. These include the painted caves of Cuevas Pintadas de Gáldar and the Cenobio or convent de Valerón.
Local culture and heritage is intimately interconnected in the modern cultural life of the island which boasts a very full calendar filled with some of the most distinctive traditions of Spain. There are year-round concerts, a full conference schedule and a world famous music festival that, uniquely in Europe, takes place in winter.
On the coast, wide sandy beaches are kissed by calm Atlantic seas and, while elsewhere people are shuddering from the effects of a cold winter, on Gran Canary those lucky enough to be enjoying the ambiance are lying within the shade protected from a benevolent (though still effective) sun, a cool drink within easy reach and languidly gazing at distant snow covered mountain peaks.
More information:
www.grancanaria.com
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Last Updated ( jueves, 16 agosto 2007 )
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