Gran Canaria
is an island of the Canary Island, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin, mostly made of fissure vents. Gran Canaria is the second most populated island of the Canary Islands.
Gran Canaria's surface area is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, with a diameter of approximately 50 km.It is divided into twenty-one municipalities.
Climate
Gran Canaria's average daytime high's range from 20 celsius in winter, to 26 celsius in summer. Some cool nights occur in winter, but lows below 10 celsius are unknown. Hot southeasterly winds from the Sahara can push temperatures above 38 celsius (100 F) on rare occasions, but these conditions don't normally last long.
TourismGran Canaria is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found. A third of the island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000). Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island.
The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny. The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the western coast is rockier and mountainous.
The island possesses 32 Natural Protected Spaces, that they emphasize the Rural Park of Nublo, Doramas' Jungle, the Ravine of Azuaje, Tamadaba, Pino Santo, etc.
The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, Maspalomas and Meloneras.
The Dunes of Maspalomas are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.
Another tourist attraction is the lighthouse at Maspalomas situated at the western end of Maspalomas.
A wonderful beach is found near the Maspalomas Dunes. Maspalomas is known throughout the world for its lighthouse, lagoon and magnificent beach.
The South Cost
Playa del Inglés (Spanish for "Englishman's Beach") is a town in the south coast of the island. Playa del Inglés is part of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana It has a nice long beach made of tall sand dunes that come from the Sahara desert, and is connected with other beach towns including San Agustín and Maspalomas in the touristic centre of the island. The population was 17,158 in 2002, and growing. Hotels, restaurants, taverns and villas. are aligned with its beach.
Playa del Inglés is linked with the old highway linking Puerto de Mogán and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and with the GC1 superhighway with an interchange to the north. Until the arrival of tourism, agriculture was the main industry in the area. Currently, after tourism, the leading industries are business and agriculture. The mountains can be seen to the north.
