The largest of the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife sits in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of North Africa and enjoys eternal sunshine – one of the reasons that makes this beautiful island such a hotspot for millions of tourists every year.
Tenerife is a volcanic island that has been sculpted over time by several eruptions, the last being in the early 20th century. It has a great mix of rugged terrain, dramatic landscapes and a sub-tropical climate with temperatures averaging 20°C – 22°C in the winter months and 26°C – 28°C in the summer.
In March 1936 Francisco Franco was posted to the island by a Republican government wary of his growing influence and power. He agreed to collaborate in the military coup that led to the Spanish Civil War when the Canary Islands fell to the Nationals in 1936. Consequently many people moved away from Tenerife eager to escape from the new regime. Today Tenerife’s population is around 900,000 and around five million tourists visit the island every year.
The magnificent sight of Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, welcomes you as you come into land and in the winter can even be covered in snow while on the coast the sun shines as usual. There have been four recorded volcanic eruptions with no casualties at all; two in the early 1700s, the third in 1798 and the last known eruption was in 1909.
The island has been heavily developed since the 1970s, benefiting from massive investments that in turn have led to it becoming the economic capital of the Canaries. The actual capital city is Santa Cruz, located in the north.
Over the years Tenerife has become a popular holiday destination and it’s easy to see why with dozens of great resorts to choose from. From the well-known resorts of Playa las Américas and Los Cristianos, the stunning cliffs at Los Gigantes to the pine forests in the national park…this island has so much more to offer other than great weather.
