View source for Canary Islands

{{Short description|Spanish archipelago and region in the Atlantic Ocean}}
{{Redirect|Canary Island|the locality in Australia|Canary Island, Victoria}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox political division
| name                     = Canary Islands
| official_name            = 
| anthem                   = "[[Anthem of the Canaries]]"
| native_name              = {{native name|es|Islas Canarias}}
| settlement_type          = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous community]] of [[Spain]] and [[Special territories of members of the European Economic Area#Outermost Regions|outermost region]] of the [[European Union]]
| imagesize                = 275px
| image_caption            = I
| image_flag               = Flag of the Canary Islands (simple).svg
| flag_size                = 120px
| flag_link                = Flag of the Canary Islands
| image_shield             = Coat of Arms of the Canary Islands.svg
| shield_size              = 105px
| shield_link              = Coat of arms of the Canary Islands
| image_map                = Islas Canarias (real location) in Spain.svg
| mapsize                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of the Canary Islands (red) within Spain
| coordinates              = {{Wikidatacoord|Q5813|region:ES-CN_type:isle|display=title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{Flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]
| largest_city             = [[Las Palmas|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]
| capital                  = [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] (executive and legislative) and [[Las Palmas|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] (executive and judicial)
| leader_party             = [[Canarian Coalition|CC]]
| leader_title             = [[President of the Canary Islands|President]]
| leader_name              = [[Fernando Clavijo Batlle]]
| area_km2                 = 7445.58
| area_rank                = 13th in Spain
| population_estimate      = 2,268,035<ref name=population2025>{{cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo, grupo de edad y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=59588 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) |access-date=2025-08-08}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2025
| population_estimate_rank = 7th in Spain
| population_density_km2   = 305
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| demonym                  = [[Canarian people|Canarian]]<br />{{lang|es|canario/-a}} ([[Spanish language|Spanish]])
| GDP_nominal              = €58,531 billion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.laprovincia.es/economia/2025/04/12/son-islas-ricas-pobres-canarias-116323613.html |title=PIB de Canarias 2024|website=www.laprovincia.es|access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_year         = 2024
| GDP_nominal_per_capita   = €26,038
| currency                 = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code            = EUR
| timezone                 = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset               = ±00:00{{!}}UTC
| timezone_DST             = [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]
| utc_offset_DST           = +1
| postal_code              = 
| iso_code                 = {{hlist|IC|[[ISO 3166-2:ES|ES-CN]]}}
| blank_name_sec1          = Most populated island
| blank_info_sec1          = [[Tenerife]]<ref name="BOE_pop_2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2019/12/20/743 |title=Real Decreto 743/2019, de 20 de diciembre, por el que se declaran oficiales las cifras de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal referidas al 1 de enero de 2019. |website=[[Boletín Oficial del Estado|BOE]] |date=27 December 2019 |pages=141278–141281 |language=es |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220111850/https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2019/12/20/743 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1         = 
| blank1_info_sec1         = 
| blank3_name_sec1         = [[Statute of Autonomy]]
| blank3_info_sec1         = 7 November 2018
| blank_name_sec2          = 
| blank_info_sec2          = 
| blank1_name_sec2         = [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress seats]]
| blank1_info_sec2         = 15 (of 350)
| blank2_name_sec2         = [[Spanish Senate|Senate seats]]
| blank2_info_sec2         = 14 (of 265)
| blank3_name_sec2         = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank3_info_sec2         = 
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/principal/}}
|ethnic_groups_year=2025
|ethnic_groups=76.3% [[Spaniards]]
*
23.7% [[Immigration to Spain|foreign-born]]|ethnic_groups_ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Tabla.htm?t=59588&L=0 |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo, grupo de edad y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero) |author=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |date=2025-10-01 |website=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |access-date=2025-11-16}}</ref>
|population_density_rank=5th in Spain
|elevation_max_rank=1st
|GDP_nominal_rank=8th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank=15th
|drives_on=Right
|date_format=[[Calendar date|DD/MM/YYYY]]
|HDI_year=2023
|HDI=0.884
|HDI_rank=15th in Spain
|nickname={{Lang|es|Las Islas Afortunadas}} (The Fortunate Isles)
|official_languages=[[Canarian Spanish|Spanish]]
|official_languages_type=[[Official language]]
|capital_type=[[Capital city|Capital]]
|religion={{unbulleted list
|76.6% [[Roman Catholicism]]
|8.1% [[Atheism|atheist]]
|6.3% [[Agnosticism|agnostic]]
|5.8% [[Irreligion|indifferent or no religion]]
|2.8% [[Religion in the Canary Islands|other religion]]}}
|elevation_max_m=3,715
|elevation_max_ft=12,188
|legislature=[[Parliament of the Canary Islands]]
|judiciary=[[High Court of Justice of Canarias|High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands]]
|HDI_ref=<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/ESP/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0
|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref>
|HDI_rank_link=
|religion_year=2019|religion_ref=<ref name=CIS2019CyL>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_CyL.pdf |author=''Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas'' (Centre for Sociological Research)|title=Macrobarómetro de octubre 2019, Banco de datos - Document 'Población con derecho a voto en elecciones generales y residente en España, Castilla y León (aut.) |date=October 2019|page=24 |access-date=4 February 2020 |language=es}}</ref>|area_footnote=<ref name="area">{{cite web|url=https://centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/catalogo.do?Serie=NGMEN|title=Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población|trans-title=Geographical Nomenclature of Municipalities and Population Entities|publisher=National Center for Geographic Information (CNIG)|language=es}}</ref>}}

The '''Canary Islands''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|n|ɛər|i}}; {{langx|es|Canarias}} {{IPA|es|kaˈnaɾjas||Pronunciation of Canarias in Spanish.ogg}}) or '''Canaries''' are an [[archipelago]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and the southernmost [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] of [[Spain]], located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) off the northwest coast of [[Africa]]. The archipelago has a population of approximately 2.27 million inhabitants, making it the most populous overseas [[Special member state territories and the European Union|special territory of the European Union]].<ref name="Utreta">{{cite book |author=Utreta, Federico |year=1996 |title=Canarias, secreto de estado: episodios inéditos de la transición política y militar en las islas |page=291 |location=Madrid |publisher=Mateos López Editores }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.tamaimos.com/2009/10/14/canarias-esta-en-africa/ |title=Canarias está en África |last=Tamaimos |website=tamaimos.com |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003222452/http://www.tamaimos.com/2009/10/14/canarias-esta-en-africa/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo, grupo de edad y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero)(59588) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=59588#_tabs-tabla |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref>

The seven main islands are from largest to smallest in area, [[Tenerife]], [[Fuerteventura]], [[Gran Canaria]], [[Lanzarote]], [[La Palma]], [[La Gomera]], and [[El Hierro]]. The only other populated island is [[Graciosa, Canary Islands|La Graciosa]], which administratively is dependent on Lanzarote. The archipelago includes many smaller islands and islets, including [[Alegranza]], [[Islote de Lobos|Isla de Lobos]], [[Montaña Clara]], [[Roque del Oeste]], and [[Roque del Este]]. It includes a number of rocks, including [[Roque de Garachico|Garachico]] and [[Roques de Anaga|Anaga]]. The island chain used to be referred to as "the Fortunate Isles".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benjamin |first1=Thomas |title=The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400–1900 |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-85099-5 |page=107 }}</ref> The Canary Islands are the southernmost region of [[Spain]], and the largest and most populous archipelago of [[Macaronesia]].<ref name="catalogo.museosdetenerife.org">{{Cite web |url=http://catalogo.museosdetenerife.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/MACAMONO/id/16/rec/1 |title=La Macaronesia. Consideraciones geológicas, biogeográficas y paleoecológicas |access-date=10 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032309/http://catalogo.museosdetenerife.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/MACAMONO/id/16/rec/1 |archive-date=17 November 2015 }}</ref> It is also the largest and most populated archipelago in Spain. Because of their location, the Canary Islands have historically been considered a link between [[Africa]], [[Europe]], and the [[Americas]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/451062-canarias-un-puente-entre-continentes |title=Canarias, un puente entre continentes |newspaper=La Nación |date=19 November 2002 |access-date=22 January 2018 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183647/https://ads.rubiconproject.com/prebid/20148_LaNacion_Desktop.js |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2025, the Canary Islands had a population of 2,268,035,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canarias - Población 2023 {{!}} Datosmacro.com |url=https://datosmacro.expansion.com/demografia/poblacion/espana-comunidades-autonomas/canarias |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=datosmacro.expansion.com |language=es }}</ref> with a density of 305 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>, making it the seventh most populous autonomous community of Spain. The population is mostly concentrated in the two capital islands: around 43% on the island of Tenerife and 40% on the island of Gran Canaria.

The Canary Islands, especially Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote, are a major tourist destination, with over 14.1 million visitors in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Finch |first1=Walter |title=The Canary Islands shattered its record for tourists in 2023 - thanks to which holiday-loving nation of sun seekers? |url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2024/01/20/the-canary-islands-shattered-its-record-for-tourists-in-2023-thanks-to-which-holiday-loving-nation-of-sun-seekers/ |website=Olive Press News Spain |access-date=26 January 2025 |date=20 January 2024}}</ref> This is due to their beaches, [[subtropical climate]], and important natural attractions, especially [[Maspalomas]] in [[Gran Canaria]] and Mount [[Teide]], a [[World Heritage Site]] in [[Tenerife]]. Mount Teide is the [[List of mountains in Spain|highest peak in Spain]] and the [[List of volcanoes by elevation|3rd tallest volcano in the world]], measured from its base on the ocean floor.<ref name="gobiernodecanarias1">[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/turismo/area_11a_frame.html Página web] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829205532/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/turismo/area_11a_frame.html |date=29 August 2010 }} del ISTAC sobre entrada de turistas en Canarias.</ref> The islands have warm summers and winters warm enough for the climate to be technically tropical at sea level.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/51/climate/Europe/Canary-Islands.html |title=Canary Islands Weather and Climate |website=Worldtravelguide.net |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531201416/http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/51/climate/Europe/Canary-Islands.html |archive-date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> The amount of precipitation and the level of maritime moderation vary depending on location and elevation. The archipelago includes green areas as well as semi-desert. The islands' high mountains are ideal for astronomical observation, because they lie above the [[Inversion (meteorology)|temperature inversion]] layer. As a result, the archipelago has two professional astronomical observatories: the [[Teide Observatory]] on Tenerife, and [[Roque de los Muchachos Observatory]] on La Palma.<ref>{{cite news |title=First Light for Laser Guide Star Technology Collaboration |url=http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15010/ |access-date=16 February 2015 |publisher=European Southern Observatory |archive-date=24 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224022007/http://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann15010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1927, the [[Province of Canary Islands]] was split into two provinces, [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[Province of Las Palmas|Las Palmas]]. In 1982, the autonomous community of the Canary Islands was established. The cities of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] are, jointly, the capitals of the islands.<ref name=estatuto2018>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boe.es/eli/es/lo/2018/11/05/1 |title=Ley Orgánica 1/2018, de 5 de noviembre, de reforma del Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias. |language=es |website=[[Boletín Oficial del Estado|BOE]] |date=6 November 2018 |pages=107645–107708 |access-date=23 September 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923070315/https://www.boe.es/eli/es/lo/2018/11/05/1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="es.wikisource.org">{{Cite web |title=Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833 – Wikisource |url=https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Real_Decreto_de_30_de_noviembre_de_1833 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=es.wikisource.org |language=es |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064408/https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Real_Decreto_de_30_de_noviembre_de_1833 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="gobiernodecanarias.org">[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf ''Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722105020/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf |date=22 July 2012 }} en el sitio web oficial del Gobierno de Canarias</ref> Those cities are also, respectively, the capitals of the [[Spanish provinces|provinces]] of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[Province of Las Palmas|Las Palmas]]. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has been the largest city in the Canaries since 1768, except for a brief period in the 1910s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?Id=40362 |title=La población de Canarias se ha multiplicado por trece en los últimos 250 años |website=Canarias7.es |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063655/http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?Id=40362 }}</ref> Between the [[1833 territorial division of Spain]] and 1927, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands. In 1927, it was ordered by decree that the capital of the Canary Islands would be shared between two cities, and this arrangement persists to the present day.<ref name="es.wikisource.org"/><ref name="Real Decreto Canarias">[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf ''Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722105020/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf |date=22 July 2012 }} at the official website of the Canary Islands Government</ref> The third largest city in the Canary Islands is [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]], another World Heritage Site on Tenerife.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Publiceuta S.L. |url=http://www.tenerife2.com/ciudades/lalaguna.html |title=La Laguna. Guía turística de Tenerife. Tenerife, la isla de la eterna primavera |website=Tenerife2.com |date=5 January 2009 |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-date=24 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124164807/http://www.tenerife2.com/ciudades/lalaguna.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tenerife.es/planes/PTEOSistemaViarioAMetro/adjuntos/II0206a.pdf |title=2.2.6. Diagnóstico |work=Plan Territorial Especial De Ordenación Del Sistema Viario Del Área Metropolitana De Tenerife |language=es |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808043729/https://www.tenerife.es/planes/PTEOSistemaViarioAMetro/adjuntos/II0206a.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dracma.free.fr/tenerife.html |title=Presentación general de la isla |website=Dracma |language=es |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202410/http://dracma.free.fr/tenerife.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Age of Sail]], the islands were the main stopover for [[Spanish treasure fleet|Spanish galleons]] during the [[Spanish colonisation of the Americas]], which sailed that far south in order to catch the prevailing northeasterly [[trade winds]].<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Florida Department of State |url=http://info.flheritage.com/galleon-trail/platefleets.cfm |title=1733 Spanish Galleon Trail, Plate Fleets |website=flheritage.com |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-date=28 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528205005/http://info.flheritage.com/galleon-trail/plateFleets.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Calspace, University of California, San Diego |url=http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/08_1.shtml |title=Trade Winds and the Hadley Cell |website=earthguide.ucsd.edu |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-date=21 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521101305/http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/08_1.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The name ''Islas Canarias'' is likely derived from the Latin name ''Canariae Insulae'', meaning "Islands of the Dogs", perhaps because [[monk seals]] or sea dogs were abundant, a name that was evidently generalized from the ancient name of one of these islands, ''Canaria'' – presumably Gran Canaria. According to the historian [[Pliny the Elder]], the island ''Canaria'' contained "vast multitudes of dogs of very large size".<ref>Pliny the Elder, ''The Natural History'', [http://perseus.uchicago.edu/perseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=PerseusLatinTexts&getid=1&query=Plin.%20Nat.%206.37 Book 6, Chap. 37. (32.)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429031139/http://perseus.uchicago.edu/perseus-cgi/citequery3.pl?dbname=PerseusLatinTexts&getid=1&query=Plin.%20Nat.%206.37 |date=29 April 2019 }} —The Fortunate Islands</ref> The connection to dogs is retained in their depiction on the islands' coat-of-arms.

Other theories speculate that the name comes from the [[Nukkari]] Berber tribe living in the Moroccan Atlas, named in Roman sources as ''Canarii'', though Pliny again mentions the relation of this term with dogs.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Pliny the Elder |author-link=Pliny the Elder |title=The Natural History |title-link=Natural History (Pliny) |volume=5 An account of countries, nations, seas, towns, havens, mountains, rivers, distances, and peoples who now exist or formerly existed |chapter=1 The Two Mauritanias |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=5:chapter=1 |access-date=13 January 2023 |via=perseus.tufts.edu |translator=John Bostock |date=1855 |orig-date=77 CE |place=London |publisher=Taylor and Francis }}</ref>

The name of the islands is not derived from the [[Atlantic canary|canary bird]]; rather, the birds are named after the islands.

== History ==

=== Ancient and pre-Hispanic times ===
{{Main|Canary Islands in pre-colonial times}}

[[File:MNH - Mumie Frau 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Guanche mummies|Guanche mummy]] of a woman (830&nbsp;AD). [[Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre]], [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]].]]

Before the arrival of humans, the Canaries were inhabited by prehistoric animals including the giant lizard (''[[Gallotia goliath]]''), the [[Tenerife giant rat|Tenerife]] and [[Gran Canaria giant rat]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228151643/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html |title=Según la Página Web del Gobierno de Canarias |archive-date=28 December 2009 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref> and giant tortoises, ''[[Geochelone burchardi]]'' and ''[[Geochelone vulcanica]]''.

Although the original settlement of what are now called the Canary Islands is not entirely clear, linguistic, genetic, and archaeological analyses indicate that [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous]] peoples were living on the Canary Islands at least 2,000 years ago, possibly 3,000, and that they shared a common origin with the [[Berbers]] on the nearby North African coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Old World Contacts/Colonists/Canary Islands |url=https://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/oldwrld/colonists/canary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603042341/http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/oldwrld/colonists/canary |archive-date=3 June 2008 }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Olaya |first=Vincente |date=27 November 2021 |title=Studies shed new light on origins of Canary Islands population |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2019/06/06/inenglish/1559833589_664515.html |url-status=live |website=El País |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513112324/https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2019/06/06/inenglish/1559833589_664515.html |archive-date=13 May 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maca-Meyer |first1=Nicole |last2=Arnay |first2=Matilde |last3=Rando |first3=Juan Carlos |last4=Flores |first4=Carlos |last5=González |first5=Ana M. |last6=Cabrera |first6=Vicente M. |last7=Larruga |first7=José M. |date=February 2004 |title=Ancient mtDNA analysis and the origin of the Guanches |journal=European Journal of Human Genetics |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=155–162 |doi=10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201075 |pmid=14508507 |s2cid=10363742 |issn=1476-5438 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Reaching the islands may have taken place using several small boats, landing on the easternmost islands Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These groups came to be known collectively as the [[Guanches]], although ''Guanches'' had been the name for only the indigenous inhabitants of Tenerife.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benjamin |first1=Thomas |title=The Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and their shared history, 1400–1900 |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=73 }}</ref>

According to a 2024 study by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria,  there is archaeological evidence that the Romans were the first to colonise the islands, during the period from the 1st century [[Common Era|BCE]] to the 1st century CE. There was no overlap with the occupation by the people who were inhabiting the islands at the time of the Spanish conquest, who had first arrived sometime between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Catling |first1=Chris |title=Colonisation and cohabitation |journal=Current World Archaeology |date=Oct–Nov 2024 |issue=127 |pages=62–63}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Santana|first1=Jonathan |title=The chronology of the human colonization of the Canary Islands |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=2024 |volume=121 |issue=28 |article-number=e2302924121 |publisher=University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria |doi=10.1073/pnas.2302924121 |pmid=38950368 |pmc=11252820 |bibcode=2024PNAS..12102924S }}</ref>
[[File:LomodelosGatos.jpg|thumb|A selection of artefacts unearthed from the Lomo de los Gatos site on Gran Canaria]]
As José Farrujia describes, 'The indigenous Canarians lived mainly in natural caves, usually near the coast, {{convert|300|to|500|m|ft|-2}} above sea level. These caves were sometimes isolated but more commonly formed settlements, with burial caves nearby'.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Rosa |first=A. José Farrujia de la |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eK28BAAAQBAJ&pg=PR6 |title=An Archaeology of the Margins: Colonialism, Amazighity and Heritage Management in the Canary Islands |date=26 November 2013 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4614-9396-9 |language=en |access-date=4 September 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064339/https://books.google.com/books?id=eK28BAAAQBAJ&pg=PR6#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Archaeological work has uncovered a rich culture visible through artefacts of [[ceramic]]s, human figures, fishing, hunting and farming tools, plant fibre clothing and vessels, as well as cave paintings. At Lomo de los Gatos on Gran Canaria, a site occupied from 1,600 years ago up until the 1960s, round stone houses, complex burial sites, and associated artefacts have been found.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mogán |first=Turismo |title=Lomo de los Gatos Conjunto Arqueológico – Portal de Turismo Iltre Ayuntamiento de Mogán |url=https://turismo.mogan.es/es/4-art-culture-mogan/31-lomo-de-los-gatos-conjunto-arqueol%C3%B3gico |url-status=dead |access-date=27 November 2021 |website=turismo.mogan.es |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228102053/http://turismo.mogan.es/es/4-art-culture-mogan/31-lomo-de-los-gatos-conjunto-arqueol%C3%B3gico |archive-date=28 February 2019 }}</ref> Across the islands are thousands of [[Libyco-Berber]] alphabet inscriptions that have been extensively documented by many linguists.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Farrujia de la Rosa |first=José |date=1 January 2015 |title=Written in stones: The Amazigh colonization of the Canary Islands |url=https://journals.openedition.org/corpus/2641 |journal=Corpus |language=fr |issue=14 |pages=115–138 |doi=10.4000/corpus.2641 |s2cid=135307065 |issn=1638-9808 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |isbn=978-3-89645-942-8 |date=2014 |title=Die libysch-berberischen Inschriften der Kanarischen Inseln in ihrem Felsbildkontext |author1=Renata Ana Springer Bunk |series=Berber Studies Volume 42 |publisher=Rüdiger Köppe Verlag |url=https://www.koeppe.de/titel_die-libysch-berberischen-inschriften-der-kanarischen-inseln-in-ihrem-felsbildkontext |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516023837/https://www.koeppe.de/titel_die-libysch-berberischen-inschriften-der-kanarischen-inseln-in-ihrem-felsbildkontext |archive-date=16 May 2021 }}</ref>

The social structure of indigenous Canarians encompassed "a system of [[Matrilineality|matrilineal]] descent in most of the islands, in which inheritance was passed on via the female line. Social status and wealth were hereditary and determined the individual's position in the social pyramid, which consisted of the king, the relatives of the king, the lower nobility, villeins, plebeians, and finally executioners, butchers, embalmers, and prisoners". Their religion was [[Animism|animist]], centring on the sun and moon, as well as natural features such as mountains.<ref name=":4" />

===Exploration===

The islands may have been visited by the [[Phoenicia]]ns, the [[Greeks]], and the [[Ancient Carthage|Carthaginians]]. King [[Juba II]], Caesar [[Augustus]]'s [[Numidia]]n protégé, is credited with discovering the islands for the Western world. According to [[Pliny the Elder]], Juba found the islands uninhabited, but found "a small temple of stone" and "some traces of buildings".<ref name="Pliny the Elder (77-79 AD)">{{cite book |author=Pliny the Elder |author-link=Pliny the Elder |title=Natural History: 77–79 AD |access-date=22 April 2017 |translator=Bostock, John |language=en |chapter=Book&nbsp;6 Chapter&nbsp;37 |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=6:chapter=37 |archive-date=23 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423062609/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=6:chapter=37 |url-status=live }}</ref> Juba dispatched a naval contingent to re-open the dye production facility at [[Essaouira|Mogador]] in what is now western Morocco in the early first century&nbsp;[[AD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17910 |author=Hogan, C. Michael |title=Chellah |publisher=The Megalithic Portal |editor=Burnham, Andy |website=Megalithic.co.uk |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712163752/http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17910 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same naval force was subsequently sent on an exploration of the Canary Islands, using Mogador as their mission base.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

The names given by Romans to the individual islands were ''Ninguaria'' or ''Nivaria'' (Tenerife), ''Canaria'' (Gran Canaria), ''Pluvialia'' or ''Invale'' (Lanzarote), ''Ombrion'' (La Palma), ''Planasia'' (Fuerteventura), ''Iunonia'' or ''Junonia'' (El Hierro) and ''Capraria'' (La Gomera).<ref>{{cite web |title=Natural History of Pliny the Elder |url=https://www.ing.iac.es/PR/lapalma/pliny.html |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064840/https://www.ing.iac.es/PR/lapalma/pliny.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

From the 14th&nbsp;century onward, numerous visits were made by sailors from [[Mallorca]], [[Portugal]], and [[Genoa]]. [[Lancelotto Malocello]] settled on Lanzarote in 1312. The Mallorcans established a [[missionary|mission]] with a bishop in the islands that lasted from 1350 to 1400.

[[File:Pueblochico guanches A.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of a [[Guanches|Guanche]] settlement of Tenerife]]

=== Castilian conquest ===
{{Main|Conquest of the Canary Islands|Kingdom of the Canary Islands|Crown of Castile|Kingdom of Portugal}}

In 1402, the Castilian colonisation of the islands began with the expedition of the French explorers [[Jean de Béthencourt]] and [[Gadifer de la Salle]], nobles and [[vassal]]s of [[Henry III of Castile]], to Lanzarote. From there, they went on to conquer Fuerteventura (1405) and El Hierro. These invasions were "brutal cultural and military clashes between the indigenous population and the Castilians" lasting over a century due to formidable resistance by indigenous Canarians.<ref name=":3" /> A professor of history has branded the conquest of the islands as a [[genocide]] of the [[Guanches]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Adhikari |first1=Mohamed |date=7 September 2017 |title=Europe's First Settler Colonial Incursion into Africa: The Genocide of Aboriginal Canary Islanders |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17532523.2017.1336863 |journal=African Historical Review |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=1–26 |doi=10.1080/17532523.2017.1336863 |s2cid=165086773 |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503122719/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17532523.2017.1336863 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Adhikari |first=Mohamed |date=25 July 2022 |title=Destroying to Replace: Settler Genocides of Indigenous Peoples |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ht9dEAAAQBAJ |location=Indianapolis |publisher=Hackett Publishing |pages=1–32 |isbn=978-1-64792-054-8 |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326164810/https://books.google.com/books?id=ht9dEAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Béthencourt received the title King of the Canary Islands, but still recognised King Henry III as his overlord. It was not a simple military enterprise, given the aboriginal resistance on some islands. Neither was it politically, since the particular interests of the nobility (determined to strengthen their economic and political power through the acquisition of the islands) conflicted with those of the states, particularly Castile, which were in the midst of territorial expansion and in a process of strengthening of the crown against the nobility.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mercer |first=John |author-link=John Mercer (archaeologist)|title=The Canary Islanders: Their Prehistory, Conquest, and Survival |date=1980|publisher=Collings|isbn=0-86036-126-8}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2024}}

[[File:AlonsoFernandezdeLugo2.JPG|thumb|upright=1.25|[[Alonso Fernández de Lugo]] presenting the captured native Guanche kings of [[Tenerife]] to the [[Catholic Monarchs]]]]
Historians distinguish two periods in the conquest of the Canary Islands:

'''Aristocratic conquest''' ({{lang|es|conquista señorial}}): This refers to the early conquests carried out by the nobility, for their own benefit and without the direct participation of the Crown of Castile, which merely granted rights of conquest in exchange for pacts of vassalage between the noble conqueror and the Crown. One can identify within this period an early phase known as the Betancurian or Norman conquest, carried out by [[Jean de Bethencourt]] (who was originally from Normandy) and [[Gadifer de la Salle]] between 1402 and 1405, which involved the islands of [[Lanzarote]], [[El Hierro]], and [[Fuerteventura]]. The subsequent phase is known as the Castilian conquest, carried out by Castilian nobles who acquired, through purchases, assignments and marriages, the previously conquered islands and also incorporated the island of [[La Gomera]] around 1450.

'''Royal conquest''' ({{lang|es|conquista realenga}}): This defines the conquest between 1478 and 1496, carried out directly by the Crown of Castile, during the reign of the [[Catholic Monarchs]], who armed and partly financed the conquest of those islands which were still unconquered: [[Gran Canaria]], [[La Palma]] and [[Tenerife]]. This phase of the conquest came to an end in the year 1496, with the dominion of the island of Tenerife, bringing the entire Canarian Archipelago under the control of the Crown of Castile.

[[File:Columbus House-Vegueta-Las Palmas Gran Canaria.jpg|thumb|right|Casa de Colón (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), which Christopher Columbus visited during his first trip]]
Béthencourt also established a base on the island of La Gomera, but it would be many years before the island was fully conquered. The natives of La Gomera, and of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and La Palma, resisted the Castilian invaders for almost a century. In 1448, Maciot de Béthencourt sold the lordship of Lanzarote to Portugal's Prince [[Henry the Navigator]], an action that was accepted by neither the natives nor the Castilians. Despite [[Pope Nicholas V#cite ref-8|Pope Nicholas V]] ruling that the Canary Islands were under Portuguese control, the crisis swelled to a revolt which lasted until 1459 with the final expulsion of the Portuguese. In 1479, Portugal and Castile signed the [[Treaty of Alcáçovas]], which settled disputes between Castile and Portugal over the control of the Atlantic. This treaty recognized Castilian control of the Canary Islands but also confirmed Portuguese possession of the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]], and the [[Cape Verde|Cape Verde islands]], and gave the Portuguese rights to any further islands or lands in the Atlantic that might be discovered.

The Castilians continued to dominate the islands, but due to the topography and the resistance of the native Guanches, they did not achieve complete control until 1496, when Tenerife and La Palma were finally subdued by [[Alonso Fernández de Lugo]]. As a result of this "the native pre-Hispanic population declined quickly due to war, epidemics, and slavery".<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Santana |first1=Jonathan |last2=Fregel |first2=Rosa |last3=Lightfoot |first3=Emma |last4=Morales |first4=Jacob |last5=Alamón |first5=Martha |last6=Guillén |first6=José |last7=Moreno |first7=Marco |last8=Rodríguez |first8=Amelia |date=2016 |title=The early colonial atlantic world: New insights on the African Diaspora from isotopic and ancient DNA analyses of a multiethnic 15th–17th century burial population from the Canary Islands, Spain |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajpa.22879 |journal=American Journal of Physical Anthropology |language=en |volume=159 |issue=2 |pages=300–312 |doi=10.1002/ajpa.22879 |pmid=26458007 |bibcode=2016AJPA..159..300S |issn=1096-8644 |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064839/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajpa.22879 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The Canaries were incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Castile]].

=== After the conquest and the introduction of slavery ===
[[File:Canary Islands map by William Dampier 1699 - Project Gutenberg eText 15675.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Maps of the Canary Islands drawn by [[William Dampier]] during his voyage to [[Dutch West India Company|New Holland]] in 1699]]
[[File:Coat of Arms of the Realm of Canary Islands.svg|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of the Castilian and Spanish Realm of Canary Islands]]
After the conquest, the Castilians imposed a new economic model, based on single-crop cultivation: first [[sugarcane]]; then wine, an important item of trade with [[Kingdom of England|England]]. Gran Canaria was conquered by the [[Crown of Castile]] on 6 March 1480, and Tenerife was conquered in 1496, and each had its own governor. There has been speculation that the abundance of ''[[Roccella tinctoria]]'' on the Canary Islands offered a profit motive for [[Jean de Béthencourt]] during his conquest of the islands. Lichen has been used for centuries to make dyes. This includes royal purple colors derived from ''R. tinctoria'', also known as orseille.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/2006/12/12/dyeing-with-lichens-mushrooms/ |work=blog.mycology.cornell.edu |author=Randi W. |title=Dyeing with Lichens & Mushrooms |date=12 December 2006 |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822150925/https://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/2006/12/12/dyeing-with-lichens-mushrooms/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Bimbaches.jpg|thumb|Painting of [[Bimbache]] of [[El Hierro]] by Leonardo Torriani, 1592]]
[[File:Charles Edward Dixon HMS St George 1662 Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1657 Admiral Robert Blake.jpg|thumb|right|Robert Blake's flagship at the [[Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1657)|Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] during the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660)|Anglo-Spanish War]], 1657]]
[[File:Slave-driving (Africa, 1878, p. 307).jpg|thumb|190px|[[Slavery in Africa|Slave-driving in the interior of Africa]] in order to sell into enforced labour]]
The objective of the Spanish Crown to convert the islands into a powerhouse of cultivation required a much larger labour force.<ref name="Pérez">{{cite book |last1=Santana Pérez |first1=Germán |title=Black people in the Canary Islands: evolution, assimilation and miscegenation (16th-17th centuries) |date=2018 |publisher=Anais de História de Além-Mar XIX |pages=109–136 |url=https://accedacris.ulpgc.es/bitstream/10553/55574/2/BlackPeopleAHAM_19_ISSN_0874_9671.pdf}}</ref> This was attained through a practice of enslavement, not only of indigenous Canarians, but large numbers of Africans who were taken from North and Sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brito |first=Ana del Carmen Viña |date=2006 |title=La organización social del trabajo en los ingenios azucareros canarios (siglos XV-XVI) |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2161117 |journal=En la España medieval |issue=29 |pages=359–382 |issn=0214-3038 |access-date=5 December 2021 |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205131559/https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2161117 |url-status=live }}</ref> Whilst the first slave plantations in the Atlantic region were across [[Madeira]], [[Cape Verde]], and the Canary Islands, it was only the Canary Islands which had an indigenous population and were therefore invaded rather than newly occupied.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Curtin |first1=Philip D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D951EN8vk4EC&pg=PR9 |title=The Rise and Fall of the Plantation Complex: Essays in Atlantic History |last2=Curtin |first2=Philip DeArmond |date=13 February 1998 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-62943-0 |language=en }}</ref>

Because this agriculture industry was largely based on sugarcane, the Castilians converted large swaths of the landscape for sugarcane production and the processing and manufacturing of sugar, largely enabled by slave labour.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ronquillo |first=M |title=Ingenios azucareros en la colonización canaria, 1487–1526. Localización espacial y organización del espacio en Gran Canaria |publisher=Organismo de Museos y Centros |year=2008 |editor-last=Viña |editor-first=A |pages=133–153 }}</ref> The cities of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] became a stopping point for the Spanish traders, as well as [[conquistador]]s, and missionaries on their way to the [[New World]]. This trade route brought great wealth to the Castilian social sectors of the islands and soon were attracting merchants and adventurers from all over Europe. As wealth increased, enslaved Africans were also forced into more domestic roles for the richer Castilians on the islands.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lobo–Cabrera |first=M |date=1982 |title=La Esclavitud en Las Canarias Orientales en El Siglo XVI |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-african-history/article/abs/la-esclavitud-en-las-canarias-orientales-en-el-siglo-xvi-negros-moros-y-moriscos-by-manuel-lobo-cabrera-santa-cruz-de-tenerife-gran-canaria-ediciones-del-excmo-1982-pp-628/8F5789406B202CBB95D4BA164E99AA68 |journal=The Journal of African History |language=en |volume=28 |issue=2 |page=332 |doi=10.1017/S0021853700030000 |s2cid=161230066 |issn=1469-5138 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Research on the skeletons of some of the enslaved from the burial site of Finca Clavijo on Gran Canaria has shown that "all of the adults buried in Finca Clavijo undertook extensive physical activity that involved significant stress on the spine and appendicular skeleton", a result of relentless hard labour, akin to the physical abnormalities found within other enslaved groups from sugarcane plantations around the world.<ref name=":5" />

As a result of the huge wealth generated{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}, magnificent palaces and churches were built on La Palma during this busy, prosperous period. The Church of El Salvador survives as one of the island's finest examples of the architecture of the 16th century. Civilian architecture survives in forms such as [[Casas de los Sánchez-Ochando]] or [[Casa Quintana]].

The Canaries' wealth invited attacks by [[pirate]]s and [[privateer]]s. [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[admiral]] and privateer [[Kemal Reis]] ventured into the Canaries in 1501, while [[Murat Reis the Elder]] captured Lanzarote in 1585.

The most severe attack took place in 1599, during the [[Dutch Revolt]]. A [[Dutch people|Dutch]] fleet of 74 ships and 12,000 men, commanded by [[Pieter van der Does]], attacked the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (the city had 3,500 of Gran Canaria's 8,545 inhabitants). The Dutch attacked the Castillo de la Luz, which guarded the harbor. The Canarians evacuated civilians from the city, and the Castillo surrendered (but not the city). The Dutch moved inland, but Canarian cavalry drove them back to Tamaraceite, near the city.

The Dutch then laid siege to the city, demanding the surrender of all its wealth. They received 12 sheep and 3 calves. Furious, the Dutch sent 4,000 soldiers to attack the Council of the Canaries, who were sheltering in the village of Santa Brígida. Three hundred Canarian soldiers ambushed the Dutch in the village of Monte Lentiscal, killing 150 and forcing the rest to retreat. The Dutch concentrated on Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, attempting to burn it down. The Dutch pillaged [[Maspalomas]], on the southern coast of Gran Canaria, [[San Sebastián de La Gomera|San Sebastián]] on La Gomera, and [[Santa Cruz de La Palma|Santa Cruz]] on La Palma, but eventually gave up the siege of Las Palmas and withdrew.
[[File:Christelijke gevangenen worden op een plein te Algiers als slaaf verkocht, Jan Luyken, 1684.jpg|thumb|Christian prisoners are [[Barbary slave trade|sold as slaves]] in a square in Algiers. [[Barbary pirates]] captured almost 2,000 Canarians during four invasions between 1569 and 1618.<ref name="Pérez"/>]]
In 1618 the [[Barbary pirates]] from North Africa attacked Lanzarote and La Gomera taking 1000 captives to be sold as [[Barbary slave trade|slaves]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Mercer |first=John |author-link=John Mercer (archaeologist)|title=The Canary Islanders: Their Prehistory, Conquest, and Survival |date=1980|publisher=Collings|isbn=0-86036-126-8|page=236}}</ref> Another noteworthy attack occurred in 1797, when [[Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] was attacked by a British fleet under [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Horatio Nelson]] on 25 July. The British were repulsed, losing almost 400 men. It was during this battle that Nelson lost his right arm.

Apart from the passage of [[Christopher Columbus]], the Canary Islands were the site of some of the most important fleets in Western history. Such as the fleet of the [[Virginia Company]] in 1606, which marked the foundation of [[Jamestown, Virginia|Fort Jamestown]] -the first permanent English settlement in what is now the [[United States]]-<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.virginiaplaces.org/vacities/7jamestown.html|title=Jamestown – Why There?|website=www.virginiaplaces.org|access-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231954/http://www.virginiaplaces.org/vacities/7jamestown.html|archive-date=September 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hLfS4ZdARVAC&q=john+smith+canary+islands&pg=PA27|title=John Smith: English Explorer and Colonist|last1=Mello|first1=Tara Baukus|last2=Schlesinger|first2=Arthur M. Jr.|date=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0113-2|language=en|access-date=October 18, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121055158/https://books.google.com/books?id=hLfS4ZdARVAC&q=john+smith+canary+islands&pg=PA27|url-status=live}}</ref> and the passage of the [[First Fleet]] through Tenerife, which marked the first European settlement in [[Australia]] in [[Botany Bay]].<ref>{{in lang|es}} [https://canariascoleccion.com/australia-tenerife-first-fleet/ Australia-Tenerife. First Fleet], Canarias Colección</ref>

=== 18th to 19th century ===
[[File:Amaro Pargo.jpg|thumb|[[Amaro Pargo]] (1678–1741), [[Piracy|corsair]] and [[merchant]] from Tenerife who participated in the [[Spanish treasure fleet]], the Spanish-American trade route]]
The sugar-based economy of the islands faced stiff competition from Spain's [[Caribbean]] colonies. Low sugar prices in the 19th century caused severe recessions on the islands. A new cash crop, [[cochineal]] (''cochinilla''), came into cultivation during this time, reinvigorating the islands' economy. During this time the Canarian-American trade was developed, in which Canarian products such as cochineal, sugarcane and rum were sold in American ports such as [[Veracruz]], [[Campeche]], [[La Guaira]] and [[Havana]], among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canariascnnews.com/index.php/mirador/canarias/item/1721-el-comercio-canario-americano-en-el-siglo-xviii-i-parte |title=El comercio canario-americano en el siglo XVIII (I parte) |website=Canariascnnews.com |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707091632/http://www.canariascnnews.com/index.php/mirador/canarias/item/1721-el-comercio-canario-americano-en-el-siglo-xviii-i-parte |archive-date=7 July 2018 }}</ref>

By the end of the 18th century, Canary Islanders had already emigrated to Spanish American territories, such as [[Havana]], [[Veracruz]], and [[Santo Domingo]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jml34/Canary.htm |title=The Spanish of the Canary Islands |website=Personal.psu.edu |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606184134/http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/m/jml34/Canary.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[San Antonio, Texas]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/poc01 |title=Handbook of Texas Online – Canary Islanders |website=Tshaonline.org |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-date=2 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202132835/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/poc01 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.losislenos.org/ |title=Los Isleños Heritage & Cultural Society website |website=Losislenos.org |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507222938/http://www.losislenos.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/la/islenos_1 |title=Isleños Society of St. Bernard Parish |website=Americaslibrary.gov |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007110753/http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/es/la/islenos_1 |archive-date=7 October 2009 }}</ref> These economic difficulties spurred mass emigration during the 19th and first half of the 20th century, primarily to the Americas. Between 1840 and 1890 as many as 40,000 Canary Islanders emigrated to [[Venezuela]]. Also, thousands of Canarians moved to [[Puerto Rico]] where the Spanish monarchy felt that Canarians would adapt to island life better than other immigrants from the mainland of Spain. Deeply entrenched traditions, such as the Mascaras Festival in the town of [[Hatillo, Puerto Rico]], are an example of Canarian culture still preserved in Puerto Rico. Similarly, many thousands of Canarians emigrated to the shores of [[Cuba]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/m/jml34/Canary.htm |title=The Spanish of the Canary Islands |website=www.personal.psu.edu |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320082713/http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/m/jml34/Canary.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Spanish–American War]] of 1898, the Spanish fortified the islands against a possible American attack, but no such event took place.

=== Romantic period and scientific expeditions ===
[[File:Alfred Diston - Square in the Village of Los Silos, Tenerife - B1986.29.83 - Yale Center for British Art.jpg|thumb|Square in the village of [[Los Silos]], Tenerife, by [[Alfred Diston]], 1827]]
[[File:Coast El Golfo.JPG|thumb|Coast El Golfo, El Hierro]]
Sirera and Renn (2004)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://humboldt.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/10b.monte_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060131191143/http://humboldt.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/10b.monte_en.htm |archive-date=31 January 2006 |title=Montesinos Sirera, Jose Luis and Jurgen Renn (2004) ''Expeditions to the Canary Islands in the romantic period (1770–1830)'' |website=Humboldt.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de |access-date=26 April 2010 }}</ref> distinguish two different types of expeditions, or voyages, during the period 1770–1830, which they term "the Romantic period":

First are "expeditions financed by the States, closely related with the official scientific Institutions. characterised by having strict scientific objectives (and inspired by) the spirit of Illustration and progress". In this type of expedition, Sirera and Renn include the following travellers:
* J. Edens, whose 1715 ascent and observations of Mt. Teide influenced many subsequent expeditions.
* [[Louis Feuillée]] (1724), who was sent to measure the meridian of El Hierro and to map the islands.
* [[Jean-Charles de Borda]] (1771, 1776) who more accurately measured the longitudes of the islands and the height of Mount Teide
* the [[Nicolas Baudin|Baudin]]-Ledru expedition (1796) which aimed to recover a valuable collection of natural history objects.

The second type of expedition identified by Sirera and Renn is one that took place starting from more or less private initiatives. Among these, the key exponents were the following:
* [[Alexander von Humboldt]] (1799)
* [[Christian Leopold von Buch|Buch]] and [[Christen Smith (botanist)|Smith]] (1815)
* [[Broussonet]]
* [[Philip Barker Webb|Webb]]
* [[Sabin Berthelot]].

Sirera and Renn identify the period 1770–1830 as one in which "In a panorama dominated until that moment by France and England enters with strength and brio Germany of the Romantic period whose presence in the islands will increase".

=== Early 20th century ===
[[File:Bahia luz las palmas 1912 jordao da luz perestello.jpg|thumb|The [[port of Las Palmas]] in 1912]]
At the beginning of the 20th century, the British introduced a new [[cash-crop]], the [[banana]], the export of which was controlled by companies such as [[Fyffes]].

30 November 1833 the [[Province of Canary Islands]] had been created with the capital being declared as Santa Cruz de Tenerife.<ref>[[:m:s:es:Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833|''Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833'']] en wikisource</ref> The rivalry between the cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the capital of the islands led to the division of the [[archipelago]] into two provinces on 23 September 1927.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Decreto 1586 |url=https://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE//1927/266/A01659-01660.pdf |language=es |access-date=16 May 2020 |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183651/https://www.boe.es/datos/pdfs/BOE//1927/266/A01659-01660.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the time of the [[Second Spanish Republic]], [[Marxist]] and [[anarchist]] workers' movements began to develop, led by figures such as Jose Miguel Perez and [[Guillermo Ascanio]]. However, outside of a few municipalities, these organisations were a minority and fell easily to Nationalist forces during the [[Spanish Civil War]].

=== Franco regime ===
{{Main|Francoist Spain}}

In 1936, [[Francisco Franco]] was appointed General Commandant of the Canaries. He joined the military revolt of 17 July which began the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco quickly took control of the archipelago, except for a few points of resistance on La Palma and in the town of [[Vallehermoso, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Vallehermoso]], on La Gomera. Though there was never a war in the islands, the post-war suppression of political dissent on the Canaries was most severe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=León Álvarez |first1=Aarón |title=La represión franquista en Canarias: una guerra de 40 años |language=es |url=http://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/sociedad/represion-franquista-Canarias-guerra-anos_0_379012266.html |website=canariasahora |date=19 April 2015 |via=eldiario.es |access-date=18 January 2017 |archive-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184934/http://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/sociedad/represion-franquista-Canarias-guerra-anos_0_379012266.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the Second World War, [[Winston Churchill]] prepared plans for the British seizure of the Canary Islands as a [[naval base]], in the event of [[Gibraltar]] being invaded from the Spanish mainland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Churchill |first=Winston S. |title=The Second World War Vol 2: Their Finest Hour |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Co. |location=Boston |year=1949 |page=519 }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|"So great was the danger that for nearly two years we kept constantly at a few days' notice an expedition of over five thousand men and their ships, ready to seize the Canary Islands, by which we could maintain air and sea control over the U-boats, and contact with Australasia round the Cape, if ever the harbour of Gibraltar were denied to us by the Spaniards."|group="Note"}} The planned operation was known as [[Operation Pilgrim]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Churchill |first=Winston S. |title=The Second World War Vol 3: The Grand Alliance |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Co. |location=Boston |year=1950 |page=718 }}</ref>

Opposition to Franco's regime did not begin to organise until the late 1950s, which experienced an upheaval of parties such as the [[Communist Party of Spain (main)|Communist Party of Spain]] and the formation of various nationalist, leftist parties.

During the [[Ifni War]], the Franco regime set up [[concentration camps]] on the islands to [[extrajudicial punishment|extrajudicially imprison]] those in Western Sahara suspected of disloyalty to Spain, many of whom were colonial troops recruited on the spot but were later deemed to be potential [[fifth column]]ists and deported to the Canary Islands. These camps were characterised by the use of forced labour for infrastructure projects and highly unsanitary conditions resulting in the widespread occurrence of [[tuberculosis]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stucki |first1=Andreas |date=6 February 2018 |title="Frequent Deaths": The Colonial Development of Concentration Camps Reconsidered, 1868–1974 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14623528.2018.1429808 |journal=Journal of Genocide Research |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=305–326 |doi=10.1080/14623528.2018.1429808 |s2cid=80167476 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064841/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14623528.2018.1429808 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Self-governance ===
{{missing information|section|the ruling junta in the period 1978–1982|date=July 2023}}
[[File:Auditorio de Tenerife Pano.jpg|thumb|left|[[Auditorio de Tenerife]] by [[Santiago Calatrava]], and an icon of contemporary architecture in the Canary Islands, ([[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]])]]
[[File:EU OCT and OMR map en.png|thumb|upright=2|Map of the European Union in the world with [[Special member state territories and the European Union|overseas countries and territories and outermost regions]] (as of 2018)]]
After the death of Franco, there was a pro-independence armed movement based in [[Algeria]], the [[Canary Islands Independence Movement|Movement for the Independence and Self-determination of the Canaries Archipelago]] (MAIAC). In 1968, the [[Organisation of African Unity]] recognized the MAIAC as a legitimate [[African independence movements|African independence movement]], and declared the Canary Islands as an African territory still under foreign rule.<ref>James B. Minahan (2002), ''Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World'', p. 377, Greenwood.</ref>

== Islands ==
From west to east, the Canary Islands are [[El Hierro]], [[La Palma]], [[La Gomera]], [[Tenerife]], [[Gran Canaria]], [[Fuerteventura]], [[Lanzarote]], and [[Graciosa, Canary Islands|La Graciosa]]. North of Lanzarote are the islets of [[Montaña Clara]], [[Alegranza]], [[Roque del Este]] and [[Roque del Oeste]], belonging to the [[Chinijo Archipelago]]. Northeast of Fuerteventura is the islet of [[Lobos Island|Lobos]]. There are a series of small adjacent rocks in the Canary Islands: the [[Roques de Anaga]], [[Roque de Garachico|Garachico]] and Fasnia in Tenerife, and Salmor and Bonanza in El Hierro.
<gallery class="center" mode="packed" heights="55px" caption="The Canary Islands">
File:Spain Canary Islands location map El Hierro.svg|[[El Hierro]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map La Palma.svg|[[La Palma]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map La Gomera.svg|[[La Gomera]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map Tenerife.svg|[[Tenerife]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map Gran Canaria.svg|[[Gran Canaria]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map Fuerteventura.svg|[[Fuerteventura]]
File:Spain Canary Islands location map Lanzarote.svg|[[Lanzarote]]
</gallery>

=== El Hierro ===
{{main|El Hierro}}

El Hierro, the westernmost island, covers {{cvt|268.71|km2}}. It is the second smallest of the major islands, and the least populous with 10,798 inhabitants. The whole island was declared a Reserve of the Biosphere in 2000. Its capital is [[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]]. Also known as Ferro, it was once the westernmost known land in the world. Ancient European geographers such as Ptolemy recognised the island as the [[prime meridian]] of longitude with the [[Ferro meridian]]. That remained so until the 19th century, when it was displaced by the one [[Greenwich Mean Time|passing through Greenwich]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} portal |url=https://www.elhierro.es/en/history |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=www.elhierro.es |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113191830/https://www.elhierro.es/en/history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ferro {{!}} Volcanic Island, Atlantic Ocean, Nature Reserve {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ferro |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113194244/https://www.britannica.com/place/Ferro |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Fuerteventura ===
{{main|Fuerteventura}}

{{wide image|View from Pico de la Palma, Fuerteventura.jpg|820px|align-cap=center|View from Pico de la Palma, Fuerteventura}}
Fuerteventura, with a surface of {{cvt|1660|km2}}, is the second largest island of the archipelago. It has been declared a [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves|biosphere reserve]] by [[UNESCO]]. It is the oldest of the islands being more eroded. Its highest point is the Pico de la Zarza, at a height of {{convert|807|m|abbr=off}}. Its capital is [[Puerto del Rosario]].

=== Gran Canaria ===
{{main|Gran Canaria}}

[[File:Pueblo de Fataga.jpg|thumb|View of [[Fataga]], Gran Canaria]]
Gran Canaria has 846,717 inhabitants. The capital, [[Las Palmas|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]], with 377,203 inhabitants, is the most populous city and shares the status of capital of the Canaries with Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Gran Canaria's surface area is {{cvt|1560|km2}}. Roque Nublo {{convert|1813|m|abbr=off}} and Pico de las Nieves ("Peak of Snow") {{convert|1949|m|abbr=off}} are located in the center of the island. On the south of the island are the Maspalomas Dunes (Gran Canaria).

=== La Gomera ===
{{main|La Gomera}}

La Gomera (informally known as 'Isla Colombina') has an area of {{cvt|369.76|km2}} and is the second least populous island with 21,136 inhabitants. It has been declared a [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves|biosphere reserve]] by [[UNESCO]]. Geologically it is one of the oldest of the archipelago. The insular capital is [[San Sebastian de La Gomera]]. [[Garajonay National Park]] is located on the island.

=== Lanzarote ===
{{main|Lanzarote}}

Lanzarote is the easternmost island and one of the oldest of the archipelago, and it has shown evidence of recent volcanic activity. It has a surface of {{cvt|845.94|km2}}, and a population of 149,183 inhabitants, including the adjacent islets of the Chinijo Archipelago. The capital is [[Arrecife]], with 56,834 inhabitants.

==== Chinijo Archipelago ====
{{main|Chinijo Archipelago}}

[[File:The Chinijo.jpg|thumb|The Chinijo Archipelago, seen from Lanzarote]]
The Chinijo Archipelago includes the islands [[La Graciosa]], [[Alegranza]], [[Montaña Clara]], [[Roque del Este]] and [[Roque del Oeste]]. It has a surface of {{cvt|40.8|km2}}, and only La Graciosa is populated, with 658 inhabitants. With {{cvt|29|km2}}, La Graciosa is the largest island of the Chinijo Archipelago and the smallest inhabited island of the Canaries.

===== La Graciosa =====
{{main|La Graciosa}}

Graciosa Island or commonly La Graciosa is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands of Spain, located {{cvt|2|km|mi}} north of the island of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. It was formed by the Canary hotspot. The island is part of the Chinijo Archipelago and the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park (Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo). It is administered by the municipality of Teguise. In 2018, La Graciosa was declared as ''the eighth Canary Island'' by the [[Spanish Senate]],<ref name="Monzón2019">{{cite news |author1=Agustín Monzón |date=26 June 2018 |title=La Graciosa se convierte en la octava isla de Canarias |url=https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2018/06/26/graciosa-convierte-octava-isla-canarias/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416090007/https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2018/06/26/graciosa-convierte-octava-isla-canarias/ |archive-date=16 April 2019 |access-date=3 December 2019 |work=El Independiente |language=es }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Hugh |date=28 June 2018 |title=Nine fascinating facts about the newest Canary Island |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/lanzarote/articles/la-graciosa-why-visit-facts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204010003/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/lanzarote/articles/la-graciosa-why-visit-facts/ |archive-date=4 December 2019 |access-date=3 December 2019 |website=The Telegraph |language=en-GB }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2018 |title=El Senado reconoce a La Graciosa como la octava isla canaria habitada |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180626/45418824885/el-senado-reconoce-a-la-graciosa-como-la-octava-isla-canaria-habitada.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428115825/https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180626/45418824885/el-senado-reconoce-a-la-graciosa-como-la-octava-isla-canaria-habitada.html |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=3 December 2019 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es }}</ref> though it is not recognized as such by the Canarian administration. It is administratively dependent on the island of Lanzarote. It is the smallest and least populated of the main islands, with about 700 people.

=== La Palma ===
{{main|La Palma}}

La Palma, with 81,863 inhabitants covering an area of {{cvt|708.32|km2}}, is in its entirety a biosphere reserve. For long it showed no signs of volcanic activity, even though the volcano [[Teneguía]] entered into eruption last in 1971. On 19 September 2021, the volcanic [[Cumbre Vieja]] on the island [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption|erupted]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan C. |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |last3=Day |first3=James M. D. |last4=Geiger |first4=Harri |last5=Aulinas |first5=Meritxell |last6=Soler |first6=Vicente |last7=Deegan |first7=Frances M. |last8=Perez-Torrado |first8=Francisco J. |last9=Gisbert |first9=Guillem |last10=Gazel |first10=Esteban |last11=Rodriguez-Gonzalez |first11=Alejandro |date=May 2022 |title=The 2021 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge on La Palma, Canary Islands |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gto.12388 |journal=Geology Today |language=en |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=94–107 |bibcode=2022GeolT..38...94C |doi=10.1111/gto.12388 |issn=0266-6979 |s2cid=246950800 |access-date=27 July 2022 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203070622/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gto.12388 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the second-highest island of the Canaries, with the Roque de los Muchachos at {{convert|2423|m|abbr=off}} as its highest point. [[Santa Cruz de La Palma]], known to those on the island as simply "Santa Cruz", is its capital.

=== Tenerife ===
{{main|Tenerife}}

[[File:Urville-Laguna.jpg|thumb|[[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]] in 1880 (Tenerife)]]
Tenerife is, with its area of {{cvt|2034|km2}}, the most extensive island of the Canary Islands. With 904,713 inhabitants, it is the most populated island of the archipelago and Spain. Two of the islands' principal cities are located on it: the capital, [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]], a World Heritage Site. [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]], the second city of the island, is home to the oldest university in the Canary Islands, the [[University of La Laguna]]. [[Teide]], with its {{convert|3715|m|abbr=off}} is the highest peak of [[Spain]] and a [[World Heritage Site]]. [[Tenerife]] is the site of the [[Tenerife airport disaster|worst air disaster]] in the history of aviation, in which 583 people were killed in the collision of two [[Boeing 747]]s on 27 March 1977.
{{clear}}

=== List ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
![[Flag]]!![[Coat of arms]]!!Island!!Capital!!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!!Population <br />(2010)!!Population <br />Density <br />(people/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of El Hierro.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of El Hierro.svg|30px]]
| align="left" |[[El Hierro]]
| align="center" |[[Valverde, El Hierro|Valverde]]
| align="center" |268.71
| align="center" |10,960
| align="center" |40.79
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of Fuerteventura.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of Fuerteventura.svg|30px]]
| align="left" |[[Fuerteventura]]
| align="center" |[[Puerto del Rosario]]
| align="center" |1,660
| align="center" |103,492
| align="center" |62.34
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of Gran Canaria.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of Gran Canaria.svg|30px]]
| align="left" | [[Gran Canaria]]
| align="center" |[[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]
| align="center" |1,560.1
| align="center" |845,676
| align="center" |542.07
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of La Gomera.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of La Gomera.svg|30px]]
| align="left" |[[La Gomera]]
| align="center" |[[San Sebastián de La Gomera|San Sebastián]]
| align="center" |369.76
| align="center" |22,776
| align="center" |61.6
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of Lanzarote.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of Lanzarote.svg|30px]]
| align="left" | [[Lanzarote]]
| align="center" |[[Arrecife]]
| align="center" |845.94
| align="center" |141,437
| align="center" |167.2
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of La Palma with CoA.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Coat of Arms of La Palma.svg|30px]]
| align="left" | [[La Palma]]
| align="center" |[[Santa Cruz de La Palma]]
| align="center" |708.32
| align="center" |86,324
| align="center" |121.87
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Flag of Tenerife.svg|50px]]
| align="center" |[[File:Escudo de Tenerife.svg|35px]]
| align="left" | [[Tenerife]]
| align="center" |[[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
| align="center" |2,034.38
| align="center" |906,854
| align="center" |445.76
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[La Graciosa]]
| align="center" |[[Caleta de Sebo]]
| align="center" |29.05
| align="center" |658
| align="center" |22.65
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[Alegranza]]
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |10.3
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[Lobos Island|Isla de Lobos]]
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |4.5
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[Montaña Clara]]
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |1.48
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[Roque del Este]]
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |0.06
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
|-
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="left" | [[Roque del Oeste]]
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |0.015
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
|}

== Geography ==
[[File:Map of the Canary Islands.svg|thumb|upright=2|A map of the Canary Islands]]
[[File:Hacha grande from papagayo pano.jpg|thumb|upright=2|[[Hacha Grande]], a mountain in the south of Lanzarote, viewed from the road to the Playa de Papagayo]]
[[File:Grancanaria.jpg|thumb|upright=2|A panoramic view of Gran Canaria, with [[Roque Nublo]] at the left and [[Roque Bentayga]] at the center]]

[[Tenerife]] is the largest and most populous island of the archipelago. [[Gran Canaria]], with 865,070 inhabitants, is both the Canary Islands' second most populous island, and the third most populous one in Spain after Tenerife (966,354 inhabitants) and [[Mallorca]] (896,038 inhabitants).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boe.es/boe/dias/2018/12/29/pdfs/BOE-A-2018-18083.pdf |title=Boletín Oficial del Estado |date=29 December 2018}}</ref> The island of [[Fuerteventura]] is the second largest in the archipelago and located {{cvt|100|km}} from the African coast.

The islands form the [[Macaronesia]] [[ecoregion]] with the [[Azores]], [[Cape Verde]], [[Madeira Islands|Madeira]], and the [[Savage Isles]].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan Carlos |title=North-East Atlantic Islands: The Macaronesian Archipelagos |date=1 January 2021 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Geology (Second Edition) |pages=674–699 |editor-last=Alderton |editor-first=David |place=Oxford |publisher=Academic Press |language=en |isbn=978-0-08-102909-1 |access-date=3 July 2022 |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |editor2-last=Elias |editor2-first=Scott A. |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121212110/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Canary Islands constitute the largest and most populated archipelago of the Macaronesia region.<ref name="catalogo.museosdetenerife.org"/> The archipelago has seven large and several smaller islands, all of which are volcanic in origin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Canary Islands Hot Spot |author=José Mangas Viñuela |date=2007 |url=http://www.mantleplumes.org/Canary.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=www.mantleplumes.org |archive-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319070848/http://www.mantleplumes.org/Canary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the position of the islands with respect to the north-east [[trade winds]], the climate can be mild and wet or very dry. Several native species form [[laurisilva]] forests.

The individual islands in the Canary archipelago tend to have distinct [[microclimate]]s. Those islands such as [[El Hierro]], [[La Palma]] and [[La Gomera]] lying to the west of the archipelago have a climate which is influenced by the moist [[Canary Current]]. They are well vegetated even at low levels and have extensive tracts of sub-tropical laurisilva forest. Travelling east toward the African coast, the influence of the current diminishes, and the islands become increasingly arid. [[Fuerteventura]] and [[Lanzarote]], the islands which are closest to the African mainland, are effectively desert or semi-desert.

[[Gran Canaria]] is known as a "continent in miniature" for its diverse landscapes like [[Maspalomas]] and [[Roque Nublo]]. The north of [[Tenerife]] lies under the influence of the moist Atlantic winds and is well vegetated. The south of the island around the tourist resorts of [[Playa de las Américas]] and [[Los Cristianos]] is arid. The island rises to almost {{cvt|4000|m}} above sea level. At altitude, in the cool relatively wet climate, forests of the endemic pine ''[[Pinus canariensis]]'' thrive. Many of the plant species in the Canary Islands, like the Canary Island pine and the [[Dracaena (plant)|dragon tree]], ''[[Dracaena draco]]'' are endemic, as noted by [[Sabin Berthelot]] and [[Philip Barker Webb]] in their work, ''L'Histoire Naturelle des Îles Canaries'' (1835–50).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Webb |first1=Philip Barker |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/60795 |title=Histoire naturelle des Iles Canaries |last2=Berthelot |first2=Sabin |last3=Oudart |first3=P. L. |last4=Valenciennes |last5=Goode |first5=G. Brown |date=1836 |publisher=Béthune, éditeur |location=Paris |access-date=14 May 2020 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814193620/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/60795 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The climate is warm [[subtropical climate|subtropical]]/[[tropical climate|tropical]] and generally [[aridity|arid]], moderated by the sea and in summer by the [[trade winds]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=El clima subtropical canario. |url=http://agrega.juntadeandalucia.es/repositorio/13122010/5b/es-an_2010121313_9170029/ODE-cd2b02ab-1334-3406-80b4-b9c7e0720a7b/25_el_clima_subtropical_canario.html |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=[[Junta de Andalucía]] |language=es |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222190945/http://agrega.juntadeandalucia.es/repositorio/13122010/5b/es-an_2010121313_9170029/ODE-cd2b02ab-1334-3406-80b4-b9c7e0720a7b/25_el_clima_subtropical_canario.html }}</ref> There are a number of [[microclimate]]s and the classifications range mainly from [[Hot semi-arid climate|semi-desert]] to [[Hot desert climate|desert]]. The majority of the Canary Islands have a [[desert climate|hot desert climate]] (''BWh'') and a [[semi-arid climate|hot semi-desert climate]] (''BSh'') within the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] system, caused partly due to the cool [[Canary Current]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valores climatológicos normales. Canarias |url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos#tab2 |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=[[AEMET]] |language=es |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326032223/https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos#tab2 |url-status=live }}</ref> A subtropical humid climate, which is very influenced by the ocean, is in the middle of the islands of [[La Gomera]], [[Tenerife]] and [[La Palma]], where [[laurisilva]] cloud forests grow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laurisilva. Canarias Wiki. |url=https://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/medusa/wiki/index.php?title=Laurisilva |access-date=22 December 2021 |publisher=[[Gobierno de Canarias]] (Canary Islands Government) |language=es |archive-date=25 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725064411/https://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/medusa/wiki/index.php?title=Laurisilva |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location     = [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] 35m (1981–2010)
| collapsed = 
| metric first = yes
| single line  = yes
| Jan high C = 21.0
| Feb high C = 21.2
| Mar high C = 22.1
| Apr high C = 22.7
| May high C = 24.1
| Jun high C = 26.2
| Jul high C = 28.7
| Aug high C = 29.0
| Sep high C = 28.1
| Oct high C = 26.3
| Nov high C = 24.1
| Dec high C = 22.1
| year high C = 24.6
| Jan mean C = 18.2
| Feb mean C = 18.3
| Mar mean C = 19.0
| Apr mean C = 19.7
| May mean C = 21.0
| Jun mean C = 22.9
| Jul mean C = 25.0
| Aug mean C = 25.5
| Sep mean C = 24.9
| Oct mean C = 23.4
| Nov mean C = 21.3
| Dec mean C = 19.4
| year mean C = 21.5
| Jan low C = 15.4
| Feb low C = 15.3
| Mar low C = 15.9
| Apr low C = 16.5
| May low C = 17.8
| Jun low C = 19.5
| Jul low C = 21.2
| Aug low C = 21.9
| Sep low C = 21.7
| Oct low C = 20.3
| Nov low C = 18.4
| Dec low C = 16.6
| year low C = 18.4
| Jan rain mm = 31.5
| Feb rain mm = 35.4
| Mar rain mm = 37.8
| Apr rain mm = 11.6
| May rain mm = 3.6
| Jun rain mm = 0.9
| Jul rain mm = 0.1
| Aug rain mm = 2.0
| Sep rain mm = 6.8
| Oct rain mm = 18.7
| Nov rain mm = 34.1
| Dec rain mm = 43.2
| Jan rain days = 8.0
| Feb rain days = 7.2
| Mar rain days = 6.9
| Apr rain days = 5.5
| May rain days = 2.9
| Jun rain days = 0.9
| Jul rain days = 0.2
| Aug rain days = 0.8
| Sep rain days = 2.7
| Oct rain days = 6.1
| Nov rain days = 8.8
| Dec rain days = 9.4
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan sun = 178
| Feb sun = 186
| Mar sun = 221
| Apr sun = 237
| May sun = 282
| Jun sun = 306
| Jul sun = 337
| Aug sun = 319
| Sep sun = 253
| Oct sun = 222
| Nov sun = 178
| Dec sun = 168
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Santa Cruz De Tenerife |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118081428/http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |archive-date=18 November 2012 }}</ref>
| date     = January 2012}}

{{Weather box
| location     = [[Gran Canaria Airport]] 24m (1981–2010)
| collapsed = 
| metric first = yes
| single line  = yes
|Jan high C = 20.8
|Feb high C = 21.2
|Mar high C = 22.3
|Apr high C = 22.6
|May high C = 23.6
|Jun high C = 25.3
|Jul high C = 26.9
|Aug high C = 27.5
|Sep high C = 27.2
|Oct high C = 26.2
|Nov high C = 24.2
|Dec high C = 22.2
|year high C = 24.2
|Jan mean C = 18.1
|Feb mean C = 18.4
|Mar mean C = 19.3
|Apr mean C = 19.5
|May mean C = 20.5
|Jun mean C = 22.2
|Jul mean C = 23.8
|Aug mean C = 24.6
|Sep mean C = 24.3
|Oct mean C = 23.1
|Nov mean C = 21.2
|Dec mean C = 19.3
|year mean C = 21.2
|Jan low C = 15.3
|Feb low C = 15.6
|Mar low C = 16.2
|Apr low C = 16.3
|May low C = 17.3
|Jun low C = 19.2
|Jul low C = 20.8
|Aug low C = 21.6
|Sep low C = 21.4
|Oct low C = 20.1
|Nov low C = 18.1
|Dec low C = 16.5
| year low C = 18.2
| Jan precipitation mm = 25
| Feb precipitation mm = 24
| Mar precipitation mm = 13
| Apr precipitation mm = 6
| May precipitation mm = 1
| Jun precipitation mm = 0
| Jul precipitation mm = 0
| Aug precipitation mm = 0
| Sep precipitation mm = 9
| Oct precipitation mm = 16
| Nov precipitation mm = 22
| Dec precipitation mm = 31
| year precipitation mm = 151
| Jan precipitation days = 3
| Feb precipitation days = 3
| Mar precipitation days = 2
| Apr precipitation days = 1
| May precipitation days = 0
| Jun precipitation days = 0
| Jul precipitation days = 0
| Aug precipitation days = 0
| Sep precipitation days = 1
| Oct precipitation days = 2
| Nov precipitation days = 4
| Dec precipitation days = 5
| unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
| year precipitation days = 22
| Jan sun = 184
| Feb sun = 191
| Mar sun = 229
| Apr sun = 228
| May sun = 272
| Jun sun = 284
| Jul sun = 308
| Aug sun = 300
| Sep sun = 241
| Oct sun = 220
| Nov sun = 185
| Dec sun = 179
| year sun = 2821
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] ([[United Nations|UN]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldweather.org/083/c01234.htm |title=Weather Information for Las Palmas |access-date=23 August 2010 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104171637/http://www.worldweather.org/083/c01234.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref name="aemet.es">{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |title=Guía resumida del clima en España (1981–2010) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118081428/http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |archive-date=18 November 2012 }}</ref>
| date     = August 2010}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]] (1981–2010) 632 m – [[Tenerife North Airport]]
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 16.0
|Feb high C = 16.7
|Mar high C = 18.2
|Apr high C = 18.5
|May high C = 20.1
|Jun high C = 22.2
|Jul high C = 24.7
|Aug high C = 25.7
|Sep high C = 24.9
|Oct high C = 22.5
|Nov high C = 19.7
|Dec high C = 17.1
|year high C = 20.5
|Jan mean C = 13.1
|Feb mean C = 13.4
|Mar mean C = 14.5
|Apr mean C = 14.7
|May mean C = 16.1
|Jun mean C = 18.1
|Jul mean C = 20.2
|Aug mean C = 21.2
|Sep mean C = 20.7
|Oct mean C = 18.9
|Nov mean C = 16.5
|Dec mean C = 14.3
|year mean C = 16.8
|Jan low C = 10.2
|Feb low C = 10.0
|Mar low C = 10.7
|Apr low C = 10.9
|May low C = 12.0
|Jun low C = 14.0
|Jul low C = 15.7
|Aug low C = 16.6
|Sep low C = 16.5
|Oct low C = 15.2
|Nov low C = 13.3
|Dec low C = 11.5
|year low C = 13.0
|Jan rain mm = 80
|Feb rain mm = 70
|Mar rain mm = 61
|Apr rain mm = 39
|May rain mm = 19
|Jun rain mm = 11
|Jul rain mm = 6
|Aug rain mm = 5
|Sep rain mm = 16
|Oct rain mm = 47
|Nov rain mm = 81
|Dec rain mm = 82
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 10
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 7
|Jun rain days = 4
|Jul rain days = 3
|Aug rain days = 3
|Sep rain days = 5
|Oct rain days = 10
|Nov rain days = 10
|Dec rain days = 12
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan sun = 150
|Feb sun = 168
|Mar sun = 188
|Apr sun = 203
|May sun = 234
|Jun sun = 237
|Jul sun = 262
|Aug sun = 269
|Sep sun = 213
|Oct sun = 194
|Nov sun = 155
|Dec sun = 137
|year sun = 2410
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |title=Guía resumida del clima en España (1981–2010) |access-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118081428/http://www.aemet.es/en/conocermas/publicaciones/detalles/guia_resumida_2010 |archive-date=18 November 2012 |language=es |work=[[AEMET]] |year=2010 }}</ref>
|date=July 2014}}
{{Weather box
| location = [[Tenerife South Airport]] 64m (1981–2010)
| collapsed = yes
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 21.7
| Feb high C = 22.0
| Mar high C = 23.1
| Apr high C = 23.1
| May high C = 23.9
| Jun high C = 25.4
| Jul high C = 27.7
| Aug high C = 28.4
| Sep high C = 27.9
| Oct high C = 26.8
| Nov high C = 24.8
| Dec high C = 22.8
| year high C = 24.8
| Jan mean C = 18.4
| Feb mean C = 18.5
| Mar mean C = 19.3
| Apr mean C = 19.5
| May mean C = 20.4
| Jun mean C = 22.1
| Jul mean C = 24.0
| Aug mean C = 24.7
| Sep mean C = 24.5
| Oct mean C = 23.4
| Nov mean C = 21.5
| Dec mean C = 19.7
| year mean C = 21.4
| Jan low C = 15.2
| Feb low C = 15.0
| Mar low C = 15.6
| Apr low C = 16.0
| May low C = 17.0
| Jun low C = 18.8
| Jul low C = 20.2
| Aug low C = 21.1
| Sep low C = 21.1
| Oct low C = 20.0
| Nov low C = 18.2
| Dec low C = 16.5
| year low C = 17.9
| Jan rain mm = 16.6
| Feb rain mm = 19.9
| Mar rain mm = 14.7
| Apr rain mm = 7.4
| May rain mm = 1.1
| Jun rain mm = 0.1
| Jul rain mm = 0.1
| Aug rain mm = 1.3
| Sep rain mm = 3.6
| Oct rain mm = 11.9
| Nov rain mm = 26.3
| Dec rain mm = 30.3
| Jan rain days = 1.8
| Feb rain days = 2.2
| Mar rain days = 1.9
| Apr rain days = 1.1
| May rain days = 0.3
| Jun rain days = 0.0
| Jul rain days = 0.0
| Aug rain days = 0.2
| Sep rain days = 0.6
| Oct rain days = 1.6
| Nov rain days = 1.9
| Dec rain days = 3.5
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan sun = 193
| Feb sun = 195
| Mar sun = 226
| Apr sun = 219
| May sun = 246
| Jun sun = 259
| Jul sun = 295
| Aug sun = 277
| Sep sun = 213
| Oct sun = 214
| Nov sun = 193
| Dec sun = 195
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref name="aemet.es"/>
| date = July 2014}}
{{Weather box
|location = [[La Palma Airport]] 33m (1981–2010)
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 20.6
|Feb high C = 20.7
|Mar high C = 21.2
|Apr high C = 21.6
|May high C = 22.6
|Jun high C = 24.1
|Jul high C = 25.5
|Aug high C = 26.3
|Sep high C = 26.6
|Oct high C = 25.5
|Nov high C = 23.5
|Dec high C = 21.8
|Jan mean C = 18.1
|Feb mean C = 18.0
|Mar mean C = 18.5
|Apr mean C = 18.9
|May mean C = 20.0
|Jun mean C = 21.7
|Jul mean C = 23.1
|Aug mean C = 23.9
|Sep mean C = 24.0
|Oct mean C = 22.8
|Nov mean C = 20.9
|Dec mean C = 19.3
|Jan low C= 15.5
|Feb low C= 15.3
|Mar low C= 15.7
|Apr low C= 16.2
|May low C= 17.4
|Jun low C= 19.2
|Jul low C= 20.7
|Aug low C= 21.4
|Sep low C= 21.3
|Oct low C= 20.2
|Nov low C= 18.3
|Dec low C= 16.7
|Jan rain mm = 49
|Feb rain mm = 57
|Mar rain mm = 33
|Apr rain mm = 19
|May rain mm = 7
|Jun rain mm = 2
|Jul rain mm = 1
|Aug rain mm = 1
|Sep rain mm = 12
|Oct rain mm = 41
|Nov rain mm = 70
|Dec rain mm = 80
|Jan rain days = 5
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 4
|Apr rain days = 3
|May rain days = 1
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 2
|Oct rain days = 5
|Nov rain days = 7
|Dec rain days = 8
|year rain days = 40
|Jan sun = 141
|Feb sun = 146
|Mar sun = 177
|Apr sun = 174
|May sun = 192
|Jun sun = 188
|Jul sun = 222
|Aug sun = 209
|Sep sun = 187
|Oct sun = 175
|Nov sun = 140
|Dec sun = 138
|year sun = 2106
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C139E&k=coo |title=Valores climatológicos normales. La Palma Aeropuerto |access-date=23 November 2018 |archive-date=30 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130132512/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C139E&k=coo |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

=== Geology ===
[[File:Parque nacional de Garajonay - bosque de laurel.jpg|thumb|A humid [[laurel forest]] in [[La Gomera]]]]
{{Main|Geology of the Canary Islands}}

The seven major islands, one minor island, and several small islets were originally volcanic islands, formed by the [[Canary hotspot]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carracedo |first1=J. C. (Juan Carlos) |last2=Troll |first2=V. R. |title=The geology of the Canary Islands |date=26 May 2016 |isbn=978-0-12-809664-2 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Amsterdam, Netherlands |oclc=951031503}}</ref> The Canary Islands is the only place in Spain where [[volcanic eruption]]s have been recorded during the [[Modern Era]], with some volcanoes still active (El Hierro, 2011).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fomento.es/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/DIRECCIONES_GENERALES/INSTITUTO_GEOGRAFICO/Geofisica/volcanologia/C20_ERUPCIONES_HISTORICAS.htm |title=Instituto Geográfico Nacional |website=Fomento.es |date=10 November 1949 |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401163421/http://www.fomento.es/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/DIRECCIONES_GENERALES/INSTITUTO_GEOGRAFICO/Geofisica/volcanologia/C20_ERUPCIONES_HISTORICAS.htm |archive-date=1 April 2010 }}</ref>
Volcanic islands such as those in the Canary chain often have steep ocean cliffs caused by catastrophic debris avalanches and [[landslide]]s.<ref>Pararas-Carayannis, G. (2002). "Evaluation of the Threat of Mega Tsunami Generation from Postulated Massive Slope Failure of Island Stratovolcanoes on La Palma, Canary Islands, and on The Island of Hawaii, George". Science of Tsunami Hazards 20 (5): 251–277.</ref> The island chain's most recent eruption occurred at [[Cumbre Vieja]], a volcanic ridge on La Palma, [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption|in 2021]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2021 |title=Lava shoots up from volcano on La Palma in Spanish Canary Islands |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/people-evacuated-spanish-island-la-palma-after-volcano-eruption-warning-2021-09-19/ |access-date=19 September 2021 |website=Reuters |language=en |archive-date=19 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919230941/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/people-evacuated-spanish-island-la-palma-after-volcano-eruption-warning-2021-09-19/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Teide]] [[volcano]] on Tenerife is the highest mountain in Spain, and the third tallest volcano on Earth on a volcanic ocean island.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642258923 |title=Teide Volcano: Geology and Eruptions of a Highly Differentiated Oceanic Stratovolcano |date=2013 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-642-25892-3 |editor-last=Carracedo |editor-first=Juan Carlos |series=Active Volcanoes of the World |location=Berlin Heidelberg |language=en |editor-last2=Troll |editor-first2=Valentin R. |access-date=2 September 2021 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013183714/https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783642258923 |url-status=live }}</ref> All the islands except La Gomera have been active in the last million years. Four of them, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro, have historical records of eruptions since European discovery.<ref>{{Cite book |date=1 January 2021 |chapter=North-East Atlantic Islands: The Macaronesian Archipelagos |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |language=en |pages=674–699 |doi=10.1016/B978-0-08-102908-4.00027-8 |title=Encyclopedia of Geology |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |isbn=978-0-08-102909-1 |s2cid=226588940 |access-date=16 March 2021 |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121212110/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |url-status=live }}</ref> The islands rise from [[Jurassic]] [[oceanic crust]] associated with the opening of the Atlantic. Underwater [[magmatism]] began during the [[Cretaceous]], and has continued to the present day. The islands were once considered as a distinct physiographic section of the [[Atlas Mountains]] province, which is part of the larger African Alpine System division, but are now recognized as being related to a magmatic [[Hotspot (geology)|hot spot]].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan Carlos |title=North-East Atlantic Islands: The Macaronesian Archipelagos |date=1 January 2021 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Geology (Second Edition) |pages=674–699 |editor-last=Alderton |editor-first=David |place=Oxford |publisher=Academic Press |language=en |doi=10.1016/b978-0-08-102908-4.00027-8 |isbn=978-0-08-102909-1 |access-date=16 March 2021 |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |s2cid=226588940 |editor2-last=Elias |editor2-first=Scott A. |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121212110/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081029084000278 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In the summer of 2011, a series of low-magnitude earthquakes occurred beneath El Hierro. These had a linear trend of northeast–southwest. In October a submarine eruption occurred about {{cvt|2|km|mi|frac=4}} south of Restinga. This eruption produced gases and pumice, but no explosive activity was reported.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Finalizada la erupción submarina que se inició en octubre en El Hierro |url=https://www.elhierrodigital.es/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=628:finalizada-la-erupción-submarina-que-se-inició-en-octubre-en-el-hierro&Itemid=320 |last=Prensa |first=Nota de |website=El Hierro Digital |language=es-es |access-date=14 May 2020 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330210212/http://www.elhierrodigital.es/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=628:finalizada-la-erupci%C3%B3n-submarina-que-se-inici%C3%B3-en-octubre-en-el-hierro&Itemid=320 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The following table shows the highest mountains in each of the islands:

[[File:National Park de Tiede, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain - panoramio.jpg|right|thumb|Mount [[Teide]], the highest mountain in Spain at {{convert|3,715|m|ft|abbr=off}}, is the most visited [[National Park]] in Spain.<ref name="diariodeavisos.com">{{Cite web |publisher=Canaria de Avisos S.A. |url=http://www.diariodeavisos.com/2010/diariodeavisos/content/21463/ |title=El Teide, el parque más visitado de Europa y el segundo del mundo |website=Diariodeavisos.com |date=30 July 2010 |access-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926114624/http://www.diariodeavisos.com/2010/diariodeavisos/content/21463/ |archive-date=26 September 2010 }}</ref><ref name="sanborondon.info">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanborondon.info/content/view/26362/1/ |title=El parque nacional del Teide es el primero más visitado de Europa y el segundo del mundo |website=Sanborondon.info |access-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924114109/http://www.sanborondon.info/content/view/26362/1/ |archive-date=24 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/las-palmas-00386/noticia-teide-tenerife-parque-nacional-mas-visitado-canarias-28-millones-visitantes-2008-20090831192653.html |title=El Teide (Tenerife) es el parque nacional más visitado de Canarias con 2,8 millones de visitantes en 2008 |website=Europapress.es |date=31 August 2009 |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716064422/http://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/las-palmas-00386/noticia-teide-tenerife-parque-nacional-mas-visitado-canarias-28-millones-visitantes-2008-20090831192653.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta+vacaciones+activas/Ocio/Durante+el+dia/Excursiones/EL+TEIDE.htm?Lang=es |title=Official Website of Tenerife Tourism Corporation |website=Webtenerife.com |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116025912/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%2Bvacaciones%2Bactivas/Ocio/Durante%2Bel%2Bdia/Excursiones/EL%2BTEIDE.htm?Lang=es |archive-date=16 January 2010 }}</ref>]]

{| class="wikitable"
|- align=left
!rowspan=2| Mountain
!colspan=2| Elevation
!rowspan=2| Island
|-
! m
! ft
|-
| [[Teide]]
| {{convert|3715|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Tenerife]]
|-
| [[Roque de los Muchachos]]
| {{convert|2426|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[La Palma]]
|-
| [[Pico de las Nieves]]
| {{convert|1949|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Gran Canaria]]
|-
| [[Pico de Malpaso]]
| {{convert|1501|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[El Hierro]]
|-
| [[Garajonay]]
| {{convert|1487|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[La Gomera]]
|-
| Pico de la Zarza
| {{convert|812|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Fuerteventura]]
|-
| Peñas del Chache
| {{convert|670|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Lanzarote]]
|-
| Aguja Grande
| {{convert|266|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[La Graciosa]]
|-
| Caldera de Alegranza
| {{convert|289|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Alegranza]]
|-
| Caldera de Lobos
| {{convert|126|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Islote de Lobos|Lobos]]
|-
| La Mariana
| {{convert|256|m|ft|disp=table}}
| [[Montaña Clara]]
|}

=== Natural symbols ===
{{Main|List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands}}

The official natural symbols associated with Canary Islands are the bird ''[[Serinus canaria]]'' (canary) and the ''[[Phoenix canariensis]]'' palm.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html |title=Ley 7/1991, de 30 de abril, de símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias – in Spanish |website=Gobcan.es |date=10 May 1991 |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808141931/http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html |archive-date=8 August 2011 }}</ref>
<gallery class="center" widths="250px" heights="250px">
File:Phoenix canariensis ag.JPG|Canary Island date palm, ''[[Phoenix canariensis]]''
File:Serinus canaria LC0210.jpg|Atlantic canary, ''[[Serinus canaria]]''
</gallery>

=== National parks ===
[[File:Caldera de Taburiente La Palma.jpg|thumb|The [[Caldera de Taburiente National Park]] (La Palma)]]

Four of Spain's thirteen national parks are located in the Canary Islands, more than any other autonomous community. Two of these have been declared [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]] and the other two are part of [[Biosphere Reserves]]. The parks are:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pueblos10.com/parques-nacionales/canarias |title=Parques Nacionales de Canarias |website=Pueblos10.com |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307044831/http://pueblos10.com/parques-nacionales/canarias |archive-date=7 March 2009 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- align=left
!  class=unsortable|Park !! class=unsortable|Island !! Area !! Year of designation !! class=unsortable|UNESCO Status
|-
| [[Caldera de Taburiente National Park]]
| La Palma
| {{cvt|46.9|km2}}
| 1954
| Part of the La Palma Biosphere Reserve since 2002
|-
| [[Garajonay National Park]] || La Gomera
| {{cvt|39.86|km2}}
| 1981
| World Heritage Site since 1986
|-
| [[Teide National Park]] || Tenerife
| {{cvt|189.9|km2}}
| 1954
| World Heritage Site since 2007
|-
| [[Timanfaya National Park]] || Lanzarote
| {{cvt|51.07|km2}}
| 1974
| Part of the Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve since 1993
|}

[[Teide National Park]] is the oldest and largest national park in the Canary Islands and one of the oldest in Spain. Located in the geographic centre of the island of Tenerife, it is the most visited national park in Spain.<ref name="diariodeavisos.com"/><ref name="sanborondon.info"/> The park's highlight is the [[Teide]] volcano. Standing at an altitude of {{convert|3715|m}},<ref name="IGN_PhysicalMap_2012">{{cite web |url=http://www2.ign.es/siane/Contenido.do?contenido=8691 |title=Mapa Físico de España (Physical Map of Spain) |publisher=[[Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain)]] |work=Atlas Nacional de España (National Atlas of Spain) |date=2012 |access-date=3 October 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> it is the highest elevation in Spain and the third largest volcano on Earth from its base. In 2007, the Teide National Park was declared one of the [[12 Treasures of Spain]].

==Politics==
[[File:Spain Canary Islands location map Province of Las Palmas.svg|thumb|The [[Province of Las Palmas]] (red)]]
[[File:Spain Canary Islands location map Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.svg|thumb|The [[Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] (red)]]
[[File:Las Palmas - Mapa municipal.svg|thumb|Municipalities in the Las Palmas Province]]
[[File:Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Mapa municipal.svg|thumb|Municipalities in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province]]

===Governance===
The regional executive body, the [[Parliament of the Canary Islands]], is presided over by [[Fernando Clavijo Batlle]] ([[Canarian Coalition]]), the current [[President of the Canary Islands]]. The members of the regional legislature, the [[Parliament of the Canary Islands]], has 70 elected legislators. The [[2023 Canarian regional election|last regional election]] took place in May 2023.

The islands have 14 seats in the [[Senate of Spain|Spanish Senate]]. Of these, 11 seats are directly elected, 3 for Gran Canaria, 3 for Tenerife, and 1 each for Lanzarote (including La Graciosa), Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The other 3 are appointed by the regional legislature.<ref name=compsenado>{{cite web |url=http://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/senadores/composicionsenado/senadoresenactivo/consultaprocedenciageografica/detallecomunidad/index.html?lang=en&id1=12 |title=Senators by geographical origin, Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias |website=[[Senate of Spain]] |access-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304023526/http://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/senadores/composicionsenado/senadoresenactivo/consultaprocedenciageografica/detallecomunidad/index.html?lang=en |archive-date=4 March 2019 }}</ref>

=== Political geography ===
The '''Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands''' has two [[provinces of Spain|provinces]] ({{Lang|es|provincias}}), [[Province of Las Palmas|Las Palmas]] and [[Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], whose capitals, [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] and [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], are capitals of the autonomous community. Each of the seven major islands are ruled by an island council named a ''Cabildo Insular''. Each island is subdivided into smaller [[Municipalities of Spain|municipalities]] (''municipios''). [[List of municipalities in Las Palmas|Las Palmas is divided into 34 municipalities]], and [[List of municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Santa Cruz de Tenerife is divided into 54 municipalities]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Herms |first1=Franziska |title=Alternative Tourism on Gran Canaria: The diversification of tourism products as an alternative to mass tourism |date=2006 |publisher=diplom.de |isbn=978-3-8324-9281-6 |page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZZvAQAAQBAJ&q=province%20of%20las%20palmas%20canary%20islands&pg=PA24 |access-date=18 February 2019 |language=en |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183710/https://books.google.com/books?id=WZZvAQAAQBAJ&q=province+of+las+palmas+canary+islands&pg=PA24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The international boundary of the Canaries is disputed in [[Morocco–Spain relations]]. In 2022 the UN declared the Canary Island's territorial waters as being Moroccan coast and Morocco has authorised [[Hydrocarbon exploration|gas and oil exploration]] in what the Canary Islands states to be Canarian territorial waters and [[Spanish Sahara|Western Sahara]] waters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=González |first=Sergio Muñoz |date=18 January 2022 |title=Naciones Unidas define aguas de Canarias como parte de la costa marroquí ante la pasividad del Gobierno |url=https://www.cope.es/actualidad/espana/noticias/naciones-unidas-define-aguas-canarias-como-parte-costa-marroqui-ante-pasividad-del-gobierno-20220118_1735050 |access-date=30 January 2022 |website=COPE |language=es |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815144731/https://www.cope.es/actualidad/espana/noticias/naciones-unidas-define-aguas-canarias-como-parte-costa-marroqui-ante-pasividad-del-gobierno-20220118_1735050 |url-status=live }}</ref> Morocco's official position is that international laws regarding territorial limits do not authorise Spain to claim seabed boundaries based on the territory of the Canaries, since the Canary Islands enjoy a large degree of autonomy. In fact, the islands do not enjoy any special degree of autonomy, as each one of the Spanish regions is considered an [[autonomous community]], with equal status to the European ones. Under the [[Law of the Sea]], the only islands not granted territorial waters or an [[exclusive economic zone]] (EEZ) are those that are not fit for human habitation, or do not have an economic life of their own, which is not the case of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea |url=https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027022019/https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |website=www.un.org }}</ref>

===Canarian nationalism===
{{main|Canarian nationalism}}

There are some pro-independence political parties, like the [[National Congress of the Canaries]] (CNC) and the [[Popular Front of the Canary Islands]]. Their popular support is almost insignificant, with no presence in either the autonomous parliament or the ''cabildos insulares''.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} In a 2012 study by the [[Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas]], when asked about national identity, the majority of respondents from the Canary Islands (53.8%) considered themselves Spanish and Canarian in equal measures, followed by 24% who consider themselves more Canarian than Spanish. 6.1% of the respondents considered themselves only Canarian, and 7% considered themselves only Spanish.<ref name="cis2956">{{cite web |url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/2940_2959/2956/CANARIAS_5/Es2956Can.pdf |title=Barómetro Autonómico (III), (Comunidad autónoma de Canarias) |language=es |publisher=[[Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas]] |date=2012 |access-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518212504/http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/2940_2959/2956/CANARIAS_5/Es2956Can.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2016 }}</ref>

===Defense===
{{main|Military of the Canary Islands}}

The defense of the territory is the responsibility of the [[Spanish Armed Forces]]. Components of the [[Spanish Army|Army]], [[Spanish Navy|Navy]], [[Spanish Air and Space Force|Air Force]] and the [[Spanish Civil Guard|Civil Guard]] are based in the territory.

After the establishment of a democratic [[constitutional monarchy]] in Spain, [[self-governance|autonomy]] was granted to the Canaries via a law passed in 1982, with a newly established autonomous devolved government and parliament. In 1983, the first autonomous elections were held. The [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) won.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.parcan.es/ |title=Parlamento de Canarias – Parlamento de Canarias |website=www.parcan.es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318112151/https://www.parcan.es/ |archive-date=18 March 2020 }}</ref>

=== Capitals ===
At present, the Canary Islands is the only autonomous community in Spain that has two capitals: [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]], since the {{ill|Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands|es|Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias}} was created in 1982.<ref name="es.wikisource.org"/><ref name="gobiernodecanarias.org"/>

The political capital of the archipelago did not exist as such until the nineteenth century. The first cities founded by the [[Europeans]] at the time of the conquest of the Canary Islands in the 15th century were: [[Telde]] (in [[Gran Canaria]]), [[San Marcial del Rubicón]] (in [[Lanzarote]]) and [[Betancuria]] (in [[Fuerteventura]]). These cities boasted the first European institutions present in the archipelago, including [[Catholic]] [[bishoprics]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.juliosanchezrodriguez.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/san_marcial.pdf |title=San Marcial de Rubicón y los obispados de Canarias |access-date=24 May 2016 |author=Julio Sánchez Rodríguez |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020508/http://www.juliosanchezrodriguez.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/san_marcial.pdf |archive-date=3 April 2015 }}</ref> Although, because the period of splendor of these cities developed before the total conquest of the archipelago and its incorporation into the [[Crown of Castile]] never had a political and real control of the entire Canary archipelago.

[[File:Las Palmas panorama.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Overview of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]
[[File:Vista de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.png|thumb|upright=1.25|View of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
The function of a Canarian city with full jurisdiction for the entire archipelago only exists after the conquest of the Canary Islands, although originally ''[[de facto]]'', that is, without legal and real meaning and linked to the headquarters of the [[Canary Islands General Captaincy]].

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was the first city that exercised this function. This is because the residence of the Captain General of the Canary Islands was in this city during part of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.<ref name="junta">La Junta Suprema de Canarias. Volumen I. Buenaventura Bonnet y Riveron. Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Tenerife, Editorial: Editorial Interinsular Canaria SA, publicado en Santa Cruz de Tenerife en 1980 (reedición de 1948) Páginas 104–106</ref> In May 1661, the Captain General of the Canary Islands, [[Jerónimo de Benavente y Quiñones]], moved the headquarters of the captaincy to the city of [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]] on the island of [[Tenerife]].<ref name="portalcultura.mde_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.portalcultura.mde.es/cultural/archivos/canarias/archivo_156.html |title=Archivo Intermedio Militar de Canarias. Gobierno de España |language=es |access-date=5 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222093936/http://www.portalcultura.mde.es/cultural/archivos/canarias/archivo_156.html |archive-date=22 February 2017 }}</ref> This was due to the fact that this island since the conquest was the most populated, productive and with the highest economic expectations.<ref name="mdc.ulpgc_1">{{cite web |url=http://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/bolmc/id/440 |title=La Diócesis de San Cristóbal de La Laguna en los inicios del siglo XIX: el Obispo Folgueras Sión, el Cabildo Catedral y la jurisdicción eclesiástica |language=es |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617065832/https://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/bolmc/id/440 |url-status=live }}</ref> La Laguna would be considered the ''de facto'' capital of the archipelago<ref name="ref_duplicada_2">{{cite web |url=http://www.arquitectuba.com.ar/diccionario-arquitectura-construccion/san-cristobal-de-la-laguna/ |title=Capital de facto de Canarias |language=es |access-date=5 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105123250/http://www.arquitectuba.com.ar/diccionario-arquitectura-construccion/san-cristobal-de-la-laguna/ |archive-date=5 January 2009 }}</ref> until the official status of the capital of Canary Islands in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was confirmed in the 19th century, due in part to the constant controversies and rivalries between the bourgeoisies of San Cristóbal de La Laguna and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the economic, political and institutional hegemony of the archipelago.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=1&idcap=190&idcon=691 |title=Pleito Insular; Autonomía y Nacionalidad |work=Gran Enciclopedia Virtual Islas Canarias |language=es |via=www.gevic.net |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422082522/http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=1&idcap=190&idcon=691 |archive-date=22 April 2020 }}</ref>

Already in 1723, the Captain General of the Canary Islands [[Lorenzo Fernandez de Villavicencio]] had moved the headquarters of the General Captaincy of the Canary Islands from San Cristóbal de La Laguna to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This decision continued without pleasing the society of the island of Gran Canaria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=1&idcap=197&idcon=717 |title=Su Origen |work=Gran Enciclopedia Virtual Islas Canarias |language=es |via=www.gevic.net |access-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110160012/http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=1&idcap=197&idcon=717 |archive-date=10 November 2018 }}</ref> It would be after the creation of the [[Province of Canary Islands]] in November 1833 in which Santa Cruz would become the first fully official capital of the Canary Islands (''[[De jure]]'' and not of ''de facto'' as happened previously).<ref name="es.wikisource.org"/><ref name="Real Decreto Canarias"/> Santa Cruz de Tenerife would be the capital of the Canary archipelago until during the Government of General [[Miguel Primo de Rivera|Primo de Rivera]] in 1927 the province of Canary Islands was split in two provinces: [[Province of Las Palmas|Las Palmas]] with capital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and [[Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] with capital in the homonymous city.

Finally, with the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands in 1982 and the creation of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, the capital of the archipelago between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife is fixed, which is how it remains today.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of the Canary Islands|Canary Islanders|Spanish immigration to Cuba}}

{{historical populations|1768 |155763|1787 |168928|1797 |173865|1842 |241266
|1857|234046|1877|284857|1887|301983|1900|364408|1910|458719|1920|488483|1930|572273|1940|687937|1950|807773|1960|966177|1970|1125442|1981|1367646|1991|1493784|2001|1694477|2011|2082654|2021|2178924|source=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/poblacion/datos_basicos/padron_2004/pm2004_frm.html |title=Official census statistics of the Canary Islands population |website=Gobiernodecanarias.org |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326152939/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fpoblacion%2Fdatos_basicos%2Fpadron_2004%2Fpm2004_frm.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]}}</ref>|align=right|cols=1}}

As of 2024, the Canary Islands have a population of 2,238,754, making them the 7th-most populous of Spain's [[autonomous communities]].<ref name="population">{{cite web |title=Annual population census 2021-2024 |url=https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/en/index.htm?padre=10607&capsel=11555 |publisher=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]}}</ref> The total area of the archipelago is {{cvt|7445.58|km2}}, resulting in a population density of 303.9 inhabitants per square kilometre.<ref name="population" /><ref name="area" />

The population of the islands as of 2024 is:<ref name="population" />
* [[Tenerife]] – 959,189
* [[Gran Canaria]] – 869,984
* [[Lanzarote]] – 163,230 (including the population of [[La Graciosa]])
* [[Fuerteventura]] – 126,676
* [[La Palma]] – 85,382
* [[La Gomera]] – 22,507
* [[El Hierro]] – 11,786
The Canary Islands have become home to many European residents, mainly coming from Italy, Germany and the UK. Because of the vast immigration to Venezuela and Cuba during the second half of the 20th century and the later return to the Canary Islands of these people along with their families, there are many residents whose country of origin was [[Venezuela]] (66,593) or [[Cuba]] (41,807). Since the 1990s, many [[Immigration to Spain|illegal migrants]] have reached the Canary Islands, [[Melilla]] and [[Ceuta]], using them as entry points to the EU.<ref name="canarias7.es">{{cite web |last=Suárez |first=Borja |date=25 June 2018 |title=El 91% de los nuevos habitantes de Canarias viene del extranjero |url=https://www.canarias7.es/sociedad/el-91-de-los-nuevos-habitantes-de-canarias-viene-del-extranjero-IN4906192 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003220922/https://www.canarias7.es/sociedad/el-91-de-los-nuevos-habitantes-de-canarias-viene-del-extranjero-IN4906192 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |website=www.canarias7.es }}</ref><ref name="ine_pop_19_birthplace" /><ref name="CIA">{{cite web | title=The World Factbook | website=CIA | date=2024-12-19 | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2024/countries/morocco/#people-and-society | access-date=2025-05-11}}</ref> A record number of 46,843 migrants, mostly from [[Senegal]], [[Mali]] and [[Morocco]], arrived illegally in the Canary Islands in 2024, up from 39,910 in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spain's Canary Islands received record 46,843 migrants in 2024: ministry |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250102-spain-s-canary-islands-received-record-46-843-migrants-in-2024-ministry |work=France 24 |date=2 January 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|-
! colspan="4"| Population of the Canary Islands 2019
|-
! colspan="2"| Birthplace 
! Population
! Percent
|-
| colspan="2"| Canary Islands ||1,553,517  || 72.1
|-
| colspan="2"| Rest of Spain ||176,302 || 8.2
|-
|colspan="2"|   '''Total, Spain''' ||  '''1,735,457 ''' ||  '''80.6'''
|-
| colspan="2"|  Foreign-born||417,932 || 19.4
|-
| colspan="2"| '''[[Americas]]''' ||201,257 || 9.3
|-
|colspan="2"| [[Venezuela]]|| 66,573 || –
|-
| colspan ="2"| [[Cuba]]|| 41,792 || –
|-
| colspan ="2"| [[Colombia]]|| 31,361 || –
|-
| colspan="2"| [[Argentina]] || 17,429 || –
|-
|colspan ="2"| [[Uruguay]]|| 8,687 || –
|-
| colspan="2"| ''' Rest of [[Europe]] ''' || 154,511|| 7.2
|-
| colspan ="2"| [[Italy]]|| 39,469 || –
|-
| colspan ="2"| [[Germany]]|| 25,921 || –
|-
|colspan ="2"| [[United Kingdom]]|| 25,339 || –
|-
| colspan="2"| '''[[Africa]]''' ||38,768  || 1.8
|-
| colspan ="2"| [[Morocco]]|| 24,268 || –
|-
| colspan="2"| '''[[Asia]]''' || 23,082||1.1
|-
|colspan="2"| [[China]] || 9,848 || –
|-
|colspan="2"| [[India]] || 5,766 || –
|-
| colspan="2"| '''[[Oceania]]''' || 314||0.0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total||align=center|2,153,389||align=center|100.0
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align:left;"|<small>Source</small><ref name=ine_pop_19_birthplace>{{cite web |url=https://ine.es/jaxi/files/_px/es/xls/t20/e245/p04/a2019/l0/0ccaa007.xls?nocab=1 |title=Estadística del Padrón Continuo a 1 de enero de 2019. Datos a nivel nacional, comunidad autónoma y provincia |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220111855/https://ine.es/jaxi/files/_px/es/xls/t20/e245/p04/a2019/l0/0ccaa007.xls%3Fnocab%3D1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ine_pop_cn_19_birthplace>{{cite web |url=https://ine.es/jaxi/files/_px/es/xls/t20/e245/p04/a2019/l0/000ca006.xls?nocab=1 |title=Estadística del Padrón Continuo a 1 de enero de 2019. Datos a nivel nacional, comunidad autónoma y provincia (Canarias) |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220111907/https://ine.es/jaxi/files/_px/es/xls/t20/e245/p04/a2019/l0/000ca006.xls%3Fnocab%3D1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Canary Islands}}

[[File:Candelaria Basilica.jpg|thumb|[[Basilica of Candelaria|Basilica of the Virgin of Candelaria]] (Patroness of the Canary Islands) in [[Candelaria, Tenerife|Candelaria]], Tenerife]]
The [[Catholic Church]] has been the majority religion in the archipelago for more than five centuries, ever since the [[Conquest of the Canary Islands]]. There are also several other religious communities.

==== Roman Catholic Church ====
[[File:Semana Santa La Laguna 80.jpg|thumb|Procession of [[Holy Week]] in [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]]]]
The overwhelming majority of native Canarians are [[Roman Catholic]] (76.7%)<ref name=CIS2019Canarias>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_Canarias.pdf |author=''Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas'' (Centre for Sociological Research) |title=Macrobarómetro de octubre 2019, Banco de datos – Document 'Población con derecho a voto en elecciones generales y residente en España, Canarias (aut.) |date=October 2019 |page=23 |access-date=4 February 2020 |language=es |archive-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204180445/http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/3260_3279/3263/Marginales/es3263mar_Canarias.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> with various smaller foreign-born populations of other Christian beliefs such as [[Protestants]].

The appearance of the [[Virgin of Candelaria]] (Patron of Canary Islands) was credited with moving the Canary Islands toward Christianity. Two Catholic saints were born in the Canary Islands: [[Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35981/pedro-de-san-jos-betancurt-santo.html |title=Pedro de San José Betancurt, Santo |website=Es.catholic.net |access-date=23 December 2015 |archive-date=23 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190733/http://www.es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35981/pedro-de-san-jos-betancurt-santo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[José de Anchieta]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35379/jos-de-anchieta-santo.html |title=José de Anchieta, Santo |website=Es.catholic.net |access-date=23 December 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164128/http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/35379/jos-de-anchieta-santo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Both born on the island of Tenerife, they were respectively missionaries in [[Guatemala]] and [[Brazil]].

The Canary Islands are divided into two Catholic dioceses, each governed by a bishop:
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Canarias|Diócesis Canariense]]: Includes the islands of the [[Province of Las Palmas|Eastern Province]]: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Its capital was San Marcial El Rubicón (1404) and [[Las Palmas|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] (1483–present). There was a previous bishopric which was based in [[Telde]], but it was later abolished.
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna|Diócesis Nivariense]]: Includes the islands of the [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|western province]]: Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Its capital is [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]] (1819–present).

==== Other religions ====
Separate from the overwhelming Catholic majority are a minority of [[Muslims]].<ref name="laopinion.es">{{cite web |url=http://www.laopinion.es/sociedad/2008/10/03/sociedad-canarios-profesa-religion-minoritaria/173826.html |title=Un 5% de canarios profesa una religión minoritaria |first=La Opinión de |last=Tenerife |website=Laopinion.es |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911221703/http://www.laopinion.es/sociedad/2008/10/03/sociedad-canarios-profesa-religion-minoritaria/173826.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the followers of [[Islam]], the [[Islamic Federation of the Canary Islands]] exists to represent the Islamic community in the Canary Islands as well as to provide practical support to members of the Islamic community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2015/04/16/musulmanes-isla-constituyen-primera-federacion/601084.html |title=Los musulmanes de la Isla constituyen la primera Federación Islámica de Canarias |first=La Opinión de |last=Tenerife |website=Laopinion.es |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912015111/http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2015/04/16/musulmanes-isla-constituyen-primera-federacion/601084.html |url-status=live }}</ref> For its part, there is also the [[Evangelical Council of the Canary Islands]] in the archipelago.

Other religious faiths represented include [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] as well as [[Hinduism]].<ref name="laopinion.es"/> Minority religions are also present such as the [[Church of the Guanche People]] which is classified as a [[Modern Paganism|neo-pagan]] native religion.<ref name="laopinion.es"/> Also present are [[Buddhism]],<ref name="laopinion.es"/> [[Judaism]],<ref name="laopinion.es"/> [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]],<ref name="laopinion.es"/> [[African religion]],<ref name="laopinion.es"/> and [[Chinese religions]].<ref name="laopinion.es"/>

==== Statistics ====
The distribution of beliefs in 2012 according to the CIS Barometer Autonomy was as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/2940_2959/2956/CANARIAS_5/e295650.html |title=Frecuencias marginales unidimensionales del estudio 2956.5.0 |website=Cis.es |access-date=23 December 2015 |archive-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229232230/http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/2940_2959/2956/CANARIAS_5/e295650.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Catholic 84.9%
* Atheist/Agnostic/Unbeliever 12.3%
* Other religions 1.7%

=== Population genetics ===
{{Main|Canarian people#Population genetics}}

[[File:Grancanaria197227 hg.jpg|thumb|Canarian women singing in [[Gran Canaria]], 1972]]
The native inhabitants of the Canary Islands hold a gene pool that is predominantly European and native Guanche. It was found that Guanche males contributed less to the gene pool of modern Canary Islanders than Guanche females. Haplogroups typical among the Guanche have been found at high frequencies in [[Latin America]], suggesting that descendants of the Guanche played an active role in the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fregel |first1=Rosa |last2=Gomez |first2=Verónica |display-authors=1 |date=3 August 2009 |title=Demographic history of Canary Islands male gene-pool: replacement of native lineages by European |journal=[[BMC Evolutionary Biology]] |publisher=[[BioMed Central]] |volume=9 |issue=181 |page= 181|doi=10.1186/1471-2148-9-181 |pmc=2728732 |pmid=19650893 |ref={{harvid|Fregel et al.|2009a}} |doi-access=free |bibcode=2009BMCEE...9..181F}}</ref>

In 2017, the first genome-wide data from the Guanches confirmed a North African origin and that they were genetically most similar to [[Genetic history of North Africa|ancient North African Berber peoples]] of the nearby North African mainland. It also showed that modern inhabitants of Gran Canaria carry an estimated 16%–31% Guanche autosomal ancestry.<ref name="cell_31257-5">Ricardo Rodríguez-Varel et al. 2017, [https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)31257-5 Genomic Analyses of Pre-European Conquest Human Remains from the Canary Islands Reveal Close Affinity to Modern North Africans]</ref> A 2018 genetic study found that the Canarian population is, on average at an autosomal level, 75–83% European, 17–23% North African and 3% Sub-saharan.<ref>[https://www.canarias7.es/sociedad/cuatro-apellidos-canarios-un-bisabuelo-peninsular-y-otro-africano-YH6339320 Cuatro apellidos canarios, un bisabuelo peninsular y otro africano]</ref>

== Economy and environment ==
{{See also|Tourism in the Canary Islands|List of companies based in the Canary Islands|Island country#Natural resources}}
{| class="toccolours" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ '''[[Tourism in the Canary Islands]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/poblacion/datos_basicos/padron_2004/pm2004_frm.html |title=Statistics |website=Gobiernodecanarias.org |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326152939/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fpoblacion%2Fdatos_basicos%2Fpadron_2004%2Fpm2004_frm.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tourist arrivals (FRONTUR). Historical data. |url=https://investigacion.turismodeislascanarias.com/en/report/tourist-arrivals-frontur-historical-data-1997-2024 |website=Canary Islands Tourism Research site |publisher=Instituto de Turismo de España (IET) and Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC) |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:center;border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;"| Year
! style="text-align:center;border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;"| Visitors
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2024||17,767,834
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2023||16,210,910
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2010||10,432,047
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2008||9,210,509
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2007||9,326,116
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2006||9,530,039
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2005||9,276,963
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2004||9,427,265
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2003||9,836,785
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2002||9,778,512
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2001||10,137,205
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2000||9,975,977
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1993||6,545,396
|-
! style="text-align:center;border-top:1px #aaa solid;"| Largest by<br/>Country {{small|(2008)}}
! style="text-align:center;border-top:1px #aaa solid;"| Population
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Germany||2,498,847
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|United Kingdom||3,355,942
|}
[[File:Dunas de Maspalomas.jpg|thumb|The dunes of [[Maspalomas]] in [[Gran Canaria]] is one of the tourist attractions.]]
[[File:La Palma - San Andres y Sauces - San Andres - Calle San Sebastián 09 ies.jpg|thumb|A banana plantation in [[San Andrés y Sauces]]]]
The economy is based primarily [[Tourism in the Canary Islands|on tourism]], which makes up 32% of the GDP. The Canaries receive about 12&nbsp;million tourists per year. Construction makes up nearly 20% of the GDP and tropical agriculture, primarily bananas and tobacco, are grown for export to Europe and the Americas. Ecologists are concerned that the resources, especially in the more [[arid]] islands, are being [[overexploited]] but there are still many agricultural resources like [[tomato]]es, [[potato]]es, [[onion]]s, [[cochineal]], [[sugarcane]], [[grape]]s, [[vine]]s, [[Phoenix dactylifera|date]]s, [[Orange (fruit)|orange]]s, [[lemon]]s, [[ficus|fig]]s, [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[maize]], [[apricot]]s, [[peach]]es and [[almond]]s.

Water resources are also being overexploited, due to the high water usage by tourists.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255948730 |title=INTRODUCTION TO WATER PROBLEMS IN CANARY ISLANDS |first1=Juan |last1=Santamarta |first2=Jesica |last2=Rodríguez-Martín |date=1 January 2013 |pages=169–179 |access-date=31 January 2020 |via=ResearchGate |archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609183652/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255948730_INTRODUCTION_TO_WATER_PROBLEMS_IN_CANARY_ISLANDS |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, some islands (such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife) [[Groundwater extraction|overexploit the ground water]]. This is done in such degree that, according to European and Spanish legal regulations, the current situation is not acceptable. To address the problems, good governance and a change in the water use paradigm have been proposed. These solutions depend largely on [[Water conservation|controlling water use]] and on demand management. As this is administratively difficult and politically unpalatable, most action is currently directed at increasing the public offer of water through import from outside; a decision which is economically, politically and environmentally questionable.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Groundwater mining: benefits, problems and consequences in Spain |first1=Emilio |last1=Custodio |first2=José |last2=Albiac |first3=Manuel |last3=Cermerón |first4=Marta |last4=Hernández |first5=M. Ramón |last5=Llamas |first6=Andrés |last6=Sahuquillo |date=1 September 2017 |journal=Sustainable Water Resources Management |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=213–226 |doi=10.1007/s40899-017-0099-2 |bibcode=2017SWRM....3..213C |s2cid=132272387 }}</ref>

To bring in revenue for environmental protection, innovation, training and water sanitation a [[tourist tax]] was considered in 2018, along with a doubling of the [[ecotax]] and restrictions on holiday rents in the zones with the greatest pressure of demand.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/news/canary-islands-tourism-tax/ |title=The Canary Islands could become the next holiday hotspot to introduce a tourist tax |first=Soo |last=Kim |website=The Telegraph |date=25 January 2018 |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131120605/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/news/canary-islands-tourism-tax/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The economy is [[Euro|€]] 25&nbsp;billion (2001 GDP figures). The islands experienced continuous growth during a 20-year period, up until 2001, at a rate of approximately 5% annually. This growth was fueled mainly by huge amounts of [[foreign direct investment]], mostly to develop tourism real estate (hotels and apartments), and European Funds (near €11&nbsp;billion in the period from 2000 to 2007), since the Canary Islands are labelled Region Objective 1 (eligible for euro structural funds).<ref>{{cite web|title=Objective 1 Programme for the Canary Islands|publisher=[[European Commission]]|url=https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/in-your-country/programmes/2000-2006/es/objective-1-programme-for-the-canary-islands_en|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Objective 1|publisher=[[EUR-Lex]]|date=14 July 2005|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:g24203|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref> Additionally, the EU allows the Canary Islands Government to offer special tax concessions for investors who incorporate under the Zona Especial Canaria (ZEC) regime and create more than five jobs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moreno|first1=Jose Maria Cusi|last2=Moreno|first2=Juan Roda|date=May 2018|title=Z.E.C.: A Great Trading Regime|publisher=International Tax Specialist Group|url=https://www.itsgnetwork.com/itsg/globalTaxJournal.asp?aid=5|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC): The best taxation in Europe|publisher=Canaryislandshub.com|date=16 March 2023|url=https://canaryislandshub.com/category-news/canary-islands-special-zone-zec-the-best-taxation-in-europe|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref>

Spain gave permission in August 2014 for [[Repsol]] and its partners to explore [[Petroleum|oil]] and [[natural gas]] prospects off the Canary Islands, involving an investment of €7.5&nbsp;billion over four years, to commence at the end of 2016. Repsol at the time said the area could ultimately produce 100,000 barrels of oil a day, which would meet 10 percent of Spain's energy needs.<ref name="RepsolCanary">{{cite news |title=Spain's Repsol gets long awaited green signal to explore off Canary Islands |url=http://www.spainnews.net/index.php/sid/224721995 |date=13 August 2014 |access-date=13 August 2014 |website=Spain News.Net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814083307/http://www.spainnews.net/index.php/sid/224721995 |archive-date=14 August 2014 }}</ref> However, the analysis of samples obtained did not show the necessary volume nor quality to consider future extraction, and the project was scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.repsol.com/es_en/corporacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/ultimas-notas/16012015-repsol-finaliza-el-sondeo-exploratorio-en-canarias.aspx |title=Repsol completes its exploration well in the Canary Islands - repsol.com |website=Repsol.com |access-date=8 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220075026/https://www.repsol.com/es_en/corporacion/prensa/notas-de-prensa/ultimas-notas/16012015-repsol-finaliza-el-sondeo-exploratorio-en-canarias.aspx |archive-date=20 December 2016 }}</ref>

Despite currently having very high dependence on fossil fuels, research on the renewable energy potential concluded that a high potential for renewable energy technologies exists on the archipelago. This, in such extent even that a scenario pathway to 100% renewable energy supply by 2050 has been put forward.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261916317871 |title=Carbon neutral archipelago – 100% renewable energy supply for the Canary Islands |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.12.023 |access-date=23 January 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630161253/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261916317871 |url-status=live |last1=Gils |first1=Hans Christian |last2=Simon |first2=Sonja |journal=Applied Energy |volume=188 |pages=342–355 |bibcode=2017ApEn..188..342G }}</ref>

The Canary Islands have great natural attractions, climate and [[beach]]es make the islands a major tourist destination, being visited each year by about 12&nbsp;million people (11,986,059 in 2007, noting 29% of [[United Kingdom|Britons]], 22% of Spanish (from outside the Canaries), and 21% of [[Germany|Germans]]). Among the islands, Tenerife has the largest number of tourists received annually, followed by Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.<ref name="gobiernodecanarias1"/> The archipelago's principal tourist attraction is the [[Teide National Park]] (in Tenerife) where the highest mountain in Spain and third largest [[volcano]] in the world (Mount [[Teide]]), receives over 2.8&nbsp;million visitors annually.<ref name="webtenerife2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta+vacaciones+activas/Ocio/Durante+el+dia/Excursiones/EL+TEIDE.htm?Lang=es |title=Página Web Oficial de Turismo de Tenerife; El Teide |website=Webtenerife.com |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116025912/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%2Bvacaciones%2Bactivas/Ocio/Durante%2Bel%2Bdia/Excursiones/EL%2BTEIDE.htm?Lang=es |archive-date=16 January 2010 }}</ref>

The combination of high mountains, proximity to Europe, and clean air has made the [[Roque de los Muchachos]] peak (on La Palma island) a leading location for [[telescope]]s like the [[Grantecan]].

The islands, as an autonomous region of Spain, are in the [[European Union]] and the [[Schengen Area]]. They are in the [[European Union Customs Union]] but outside the [[VAT]] area.<ref name="territories">{{Cite web |title=Territorial status of EU countries and certain territories |url=https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/territorial-status-eu-countries-and-certain-territories_en |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620021134/https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/territorial-status-eu-countries-and-certain-territories_en |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead of VAT there is a local Sales Tax ({{lang|es-IC|IGIC}}) which has a general rate of 7%, an increased tax rate of 13.5%, a reduced tax rate of 3% and a zero tax rate for certain basic need products and services. Consequently, some products are subject to additional VAT if being exported from the islands into mainland Spain or the rest of the EU.
This VAT plus transportation costs make very difficult that small Canarian shops sell to the rest of Spain.
The transportation costs are even higher outside of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.<ref name="Jiménez">{{cite news |last1=Jiménez |first1=Jennifer |title=La odisea de las pequeñas empresas canarias para vender sus productos en la Península: “Los costes son demasiado altos” |url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/economia/odisea-pequenas-empresas-canarias-vender-productos-peninsula-costes-son-altos_1_12694646.html |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=ElDiario.es |date=18 October 2025 |language=es-ES |trans-title=The odyssey of Canarian small businesses to sell their products in the Peninsula: "Costs are too high"}}</ref>

Canarian time is [[Western European Time]] (WET), or [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]. In summer, one hour ahead of GMT. Canarian time is one hour behind mainland Spain, and the same time as the UK, Ireland and mainland Portugal all year round.

=== Tourism statistics ===
The number of tourists who visited the Canary Islands in 2022 was 14,617,383. In 2023, there were 16,210,911 arrivals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Official site of Canary Islands |url=https://investigacion.turismodeislascanarias.com/sites/default/files/2024-02/Promotur_Frontur_diciembre_2023_EN.pdf |website=investigacion.turismodeislascanarias.com }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Number of tourists who visited the Canary Islands in 2023, by island of destination'''
!Rank
!Island
!Number of Visitors
|-
|1
|[[Tenerife]]
|6,449,359
|-
|2
|[[Gran Canaria]]
|4,235,141
|-
|3
|[[Lanzarote]]
|3,049,188
|-
|4
|[[Fuerteventura]]
|2,274,859
|-
|5
|[[La Palma]]
|148,720
|-
|6
|[[La Gomera]] and [[El Hierro]]
|53,644
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Number of tourists who visited the Canary Islands by air, by island of destination'''
!Month
! Lanzarote !! Fuerteventura !! Gran Canaria !! Tenerife !! La Palma
|-
|2020 May
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|2020 April
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|-
|       2020 March || 99,407 || 71,988 || 141,692 || 208,696 || 11,531
|-
|       2020 February || 215,054 || 175,618 || 387,432 || 528,873 || 31,996
|-
|       2020 January || 209,769 || 149,140 || 405,208 || 512,153 || 36,618
|-
|'''2020'''||'''524,230'''||'''396,746'''||'''934,332'''||'''1,249,722'''||'''80,145'''
|-
|       2019 December || 256,733 || 168,717 || 416,723 || 526,258 || 35,515
|-
|       2019 November || 231,995 || 159,352 || 405,715 || 487,576 || 29,614
|-
|       2019 October || 258,722 || 175,472 || 354,718 || 484,905 || 24,506
|-
|       2019 September || 235,534 || 154,056 || 291,855 || 432,241 || 21,106
|-
|       2019 August || 273,783 || 175,153 || 328,921 || 501,712 || 26,465
|-
|       2019 July || 270,438 || 171,819 || 333,530 || 481,976 || 22,059
|-
|       2019 June || 242,901 || 159,945 || 274,881 || 451,244 || 18,266
|-
|       2019 May || 230,821 || 140,370 || 261,250 || 423,740 || 19,447
|-
|       2019 April || 256,776 || 179,318 || 324,647 || 484,097 || 32,927
|-
|       2019 March || 295,614 || 201,556 || 447,905 || 579,224 || 39,570
|-
|       2019 February || 272,428 || 164,970 || 403,123 || 513,880 || 32,162
|-
|       2019 January || 239,830 || 172,468 || 424,117 || 522,601 || 42,043
|-
|'''2019'''||'''3,065,575'''||'''2,023,196'''||'''4,267,385'''||'''5,889,454'''||'''343,680'''
|-
|       2018 December || 258,185 || 171,248 || 420,041 || 519,566 || 34,266
|-
|       2018 November || 256,755 || 163,189 || 410,456 || 513,953 || 40,401
|-
|       2018 October || 265,950 || 207,176 || 397,411 || 541,492 || 27,865
|-
|       2018 September || 249,877 || 181,272 || 326,673 || 451,957 || 22,094
|-
|       2018 August || 260,216 || 206,718 || 370,232 || 516,048 || 28,054
|-
|       2018 July || 258,746 || 208,723 || 374,844 || 485,961 || 23,453
|-
|       2018 June || 233,824 || 181,406 || 301,068 || 448,667 || 19,384
|-
|       2018 May || 245,563 || 159,808 || 285,178 || 421,763 || 22,702
|-
|       2018 April || 266,433 || 184,772 || 347,043 || 488,679 || 30,675
|-
|       2018 March || 299,270 || 223,478 || 441,620 || 572,515 || 35,369
|-
|       2018 February || 246,215 || 181,218 || 396,707 || 484,485 || 40,282
|-
|       2018 January || 222,283 || 184,199 || 438,555 || 503,856 || 50,215
|-
|'''2018'''||'''3,063,317'''||'''2,253,207'''||'''4,509,828'''||'''5,948,942'''||'''374,760'''
|-
|Source (05/2020):<ref name=":2" />
|
|
|
|
|
|}

=== GDP statistics ===
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Canary Islands in 2015 was {{Currency|40,923 million|code=euro|linked=no|passthrough=yes}}, {{Currency|19,222|code=euro|linked=no|passthrough=yes}} per capita. The figures by island are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Macromagnitudes de Canarias por Islas (2015) |url=http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=17&idItem=7679 |website=www.datosdelanzarote.com |access-date=25 March 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126085748/http://datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=17&idItem=7679 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''GDP by island in million euros'''
!Island
!GDP 
|- 
| Tenerife 
| align="right"| 17,615 
|- 
| Gran Canaria 
| align="right"| 15,812
|- 
| Lanzarote 
| align="right"| 3,203
|- 
| Fuerteventura 
| align="right"| 2,298
|- 
| La Palma 
| align="right"| 1,423
|- 
| La Gomera 
| align="right"| 394
|- 
| El Hierro 
| align="right"| 178
|}

== Transport ==
[[File:EC-NFA_Embraer_E195-E2_Binter_VGO_02.jpg|thumb|A [[Binter Canarias]] [[Embraer 195-E2|Embraer 195 E2]] at the Galician airport of [[Vigo–Peinador Airport|Vigo]]. Binter is the biggest airline of the Canary Islands and labels itself as the flag carrier of the Autonomous Community (''Líneas Aéreas de Canarias''). ]]
[[File:Las palmas gran canaria parque san telmo 2005.jpg|thumb|Bus Station—''Estación de Guaguas'' also known as ''El Hoyo'' (The hole), on the left, out of the image—at San Telmo Park, [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]]]
[[File:Tranviadetenerife.JPG|thumb|[[Tenerife Tram]], is the only existing tramway or train in the Canary Islands]]
The Canary Islands have eight airports altogether, two of the main ports of Spain, and an extensive network of [[Highways in Spain|autopistas]] (highways) and other roads. For a road map see multimap.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.multimap.de/world/ES/Canary_Islands |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818182912/http://www.multimap.de/world/ES/Canary_Islands |archive-date=18 August 2013 |title=Canary Islands road map: Spain – Multimap |website=Multimap.de |access-date=21 January 2010 }}</ref> [[Traffic congestion]] is sometimes a problem in Tenerife and on Gran Canaria.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thecanarynews.com/2018/10/24/cabildo-announce-changes-to-reduce-massive-traffic-jams-caused-by-gc1-daytime-resurfacing-work/ |title=Cabildo announce changes to reduce massive traffic jams caused by GC1 daytime resurfacing work &#124; The Canary – News, Views & Sunshine |date=24 October 2018 |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131114419/https://thecanarynews.com/2018/10/24/cabildo-announce-changes-to-reduce-massive-traffic-jams-caused-by-gc1-daytime-resurfacing-work/ |archive-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tenerifenews.com/2017/07/arona-leads-fight-against-souths-unbearable-traffic-jams/ |title=Arona leads fight against south's "unbearable" traffic jams |date=2 July 2017 |website=Tenerife News – Official Website |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131114416/https://www.tenerifenews.com/2017/07/arona-leads-fight-against-souths-unbearable-traffic-jams/ |archive-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.canariainfo.com/en/general-info/traffic |title=Traffic – Information about the trafic on Canaria |website=www.canariainfo.com |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033943/http://www.canariainfo.com/en/general-info/traffic |archive-date=7 September 2017 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Large [[ferry]] boats and fast ferries link most of the islands. Both types can transport large numbers of passengers, cargo, and vehicles. Fast ferries are made of aluminium and powered by modern and efficient diesel engines, while conventional ferries have a steel hull and are powered by heavy oil. Fast ferries travel in excess of {{Cvt|30|knot|km/h mph}}; conventional ferries travel in excess of {{Cvt|20|kn|km/h mph}}, but are slower than fast ferries.{{Citation needed|reason=Figures not clarified in Ferry article.|date=May 2021}} A typical ferry ride between La Palma and Tenerife may take up to eight hours or more while a fast ferry takes about two and a half hours and between Tenerife and Gran Canaria can be about one hour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Santa Cruz de Tenerife Ferry from $31 {{!}} Tickets & Timetables |url=https://www.rome2rio.com/Ferry/Las-Palmas-de-Gran-Canaria/Santa-Cruz-de-Tenerife |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=Rome2rio |language=en }}</ref>

The largest airport is the [[Gran Canaria Airport]]. Tenerife has two airports, [[Tenerife North Airport]] and [[Tenerife South Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/transporte_comunicaciones/aereo/pas_tot.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830062510/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fsector_servicios%2Ftransporte_comunicaciones%2Faereo%2Fpas_tot.html |title=Airport traffic |archive-date=30 August 2010 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref> The island of Tenerife gathers the highest passenger movement of all the Canary Islands through its two airports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://estadisticas.aena.es/csee/ccurl/52/737/Estadisticas_Acumulado%20DEF_2012.pdf |title=AENA statistics for 2012 |website=Estadisticas.aena.es |access-date=10 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808043726/http://estadisticas.aena.es/csee/ccurl/52/737/Estadisticas_Acumulado%20DEF_2012.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2019 }}</ref> The two main islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) receive the greatest number of passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/turismo/turistas/5_4_2_2_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113153256/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/turismo/turistas/5_4_2_2_1.html |title=Passengers in airports |archive-date=13 November 2010 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref> Tenerife 6,204,499 passengers and Gran Canaria 5,011,176 passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/turismo/turistas/5_4_2_2_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030122081718/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/turismo/turistas/5_4_2_2_1.html |archive-date=22 January 2003 |title=TURISTAS EXTRANJEROS ENTRADOS SEGÚN PAIS DE ORIGEN, POR ISLAS. 1997–2001. |date=22 January 2003 |website=Gobiernodecanarias.org }}</ref>

The [[port of Las Palmas]] is first in freight traffic in the islands,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/area_11_frame.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830083949/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fsector_servicios%2Farea_11_frame.html |title=Freight traffic |archive-date=30 August 2010 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref> while the [[port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] is the first fishing port with approximately 7,500 tons of fish caught, according to the Spanish government publication Statistical Yearbook of State Ports. Similarly, it is the second port in Spain as regards ship traffic, only surpassed by the [[Port of Algeciras]] Bay.<ref name="puertos.es">{{Cite web |url=http://www.puertos.es/export/download/anuarios_estadisticos/04-CAPITULO_4-2006.pdf |title=04-CAPITULO 4-2006 |access-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331101428/http://www.puertos.es/export/download/anuarios_estadisticos/04-CAPITULO_4-2006.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2010 }}</ref> The port's facilities include a border inspection post (BIP) approved by the European Union, which is responsible for inspecting all types of imports from third countries or exports to countries outside the European Economic Area. The port of [[Los Cristianos]] (Tenerife) has the greatest number of passengers recorded in the Canary Islands, followed by the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.<ref name="www2.gobiernodecanarias.org">{{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/transporte_comunicaciones/maritimo/pasaje.html |title=TRÁFICO DE PASAJE REGISTRADO EN LOS PUERTOS. 1996–2007 |website=gobiernodecanarias.org |access-date=20 September 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=Josve05a |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Port of Las Palmas is the third port in the islands in passengers and first in number of vehicles transported.<ref name="www2.gobiernodecanarias.org"/>

The [[SS America (1939)|SS America]] was beached at the Canary islands on 18 January 1994. However, the ocean liner broke apart after the course of several years and eventually sank beneath the surface.

=== Rail transport ===
The [[Tenerife Tram]] opened in 2007 and is currently the only one in the Canary Islands, travelling between the cities of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] and [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]].

Three more railway lines are being planned for the Canary Islands:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Line
! Island
! Terminus A
! Terminus B
|-
| [[Tren de Gran Canaria]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.playa-del-ingles.biz/New%20railway%20train%20service%20for%20Gran%20Canaria_21_100.aspx |title=Gran Canaria Train |website=Playa-del-ingles.biz |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518210147/http://www.playa-del-ingles.biz/New%20railway%20train%20service%20for%20Gran%20Canaria_21_100.aspx |archive-date=18 May 2010 }}</ref>
| [[Gran Canaria]]
| [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]
| [[Maspalomas]]
|-
| [[Tren del Sur]]
| [[Tenerife]]
| [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
| [[Los Cristianos]]
|-
| [[Tren del Norte (Tenerife)|Tren del Norte]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=149895 |title=Aprobado el avance del proyecto del tren del norte de Tenerife con 7 paradas entre Los Realejos y S/C |website=Canarias7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118060220/http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=149895 |archive-date=18 January 2017 }}</ref>
| [[Tenerife]]
| [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
| [[Los Realejos]]
|}

=== Airports ===
* [[Tenerife South Airport]] – Tenerife
* [[Tenerife North Airport]] – Tenerife
* [[Lanzarote Airport|César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport]] – Lanzarote
* [[Fuerteventura Airport]] – Fuerteventura
* [[Gran Canaria Airport]] – Gran Canaria
* [[La Palma Airport]] – La Palma
* [[La Gomera Airport]] – La Gomera
* [[El Hierro Airport]] – El Hierro<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/sector_servicios/transporte_comunicaciones/aereo/pas_tot.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830062510/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fsector_servicios%2Ftransporte_comunicaciones%2Faereo%2Fpas_tot.html |title=Airports by passenger traffic, 2010, July |archive-date=30 August 2010 |access-date=31 January 2020 }}</ref>

=== Ports ===
[[File:Panoramic view over Las Palmas (port).jpg|thumb|[[Port of Las Palmas]], the largest port in the Canary Islands]]
* Port of Puerto del Rosario – Fuerteventura
* Port of Arrecife – Lanzarote
* Port of Playa Blanca—Lanzarote
* Port of Santa Cruz de La Palma – La Palma
* Port of San Sebastián de La Gomera – La Gomera
* Port of La Estaca – El Hierro
* [[Port of Las Palmas]] – Gran Canaria
* [[Port of Arinaga]] – Gran Canaria
* Port of Agaete – Gran Canaria
* [[Port of Los Cristianos]] – Tenerife
* [[Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] – Tenerife
* [[Port of Garachico]] – Tenerife
* [[Port of Granadilla]] – Tenerife

== Health ==
[[File:ResidenciaLaCandelaria.png|thumb|[[Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria]], [[Tenerife]]. It is the largest hospital complex in the Canary Islands.<ref>[http://www.laopinion.es/sociedad/2016/03/31/hospital-candelaria-cumple-50-anos/665445.html El Hospital de La Candelaria cumple 50 años de servicio]</ref>]]
{{See also|List of hospitals in Spain#Canary Islands}}
The ''[[Servicio Canario de Salud]]'' is an autonomous body of administrative nature attached to the Ministry responsible for Health of the Government of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |work=gobiernodecanarias.org |url=http://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/contenidoGenerico.jsp?idDocument=ec832d3a-390e-11e0-add7-255a9201262a&idCarpeta=0428f5bb-8968-11dd-b7e9-158e12a49309 |title=Hospitales pertenecientes al Servicio Canario de la Salud |access-date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023106/http://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/contenidoGenerico.jsp?idDocument=ec832d3a-390e-11e0-add7-255a9201262a&idCarpeta=0428f5bb-8968-11dd-b7e9-158e12a49309 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[Hospital Nuestra Señora de los Reyes]] – [[El Hierro]]
* [[Hospital General de La Palma]] – [[La Palma]]
* [[Hospital Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe]] – [[La Gomera]]
* [[Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria]] – [[Tenerife]]
* [[Hospital Universitario de Canarias]] – [[Tenerife]]
* [[Hospital del Sur de Tenerife]] – [[Tenerife]]
* [[Hospital del Norte de Tenerife]] – [[Tenerife]]
* [[Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín]] – [[Gran Canaria]]
* [[Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria]] – [[Gran Canaria]]
* [[Hospital General de Lanzarote Doctor José Molina Orosa]] – [[Lanzarote]]
* [[Hospital General de Fuerteventura]] – [[Fuerteventura]]

== Wildlife ==
[[File:2012-01-10 14-53-40 Spain Canarias Cofete.jpg|thumb|[[Euphorbia canariensis|Canary Island spurge]] in Fuerteventura]]

=== Fauna ===
{{See also|List of birds of the Canary Islands|List of reptiles of the Canary Islands|List of Lepidoptera of the Canary Islands|List of non-marine molluscs of the Canary Islands}}

The bird life includes European and African species, such as the [[black-bellied sandgrouse]], [[Atlantic canary|canary]], graja – a subspecies of [[red-billed chough]] endemic to La Palma, [[Gran Canaria blue chaffinch]], [[Tenerife blue chaffinch]], [[Canary Islands chaffinch]], [[Canary Islands chiffchaff]], [[Fuerteventura chat]], [[Tenerife goldcrest]], [[Canarian Egyptian vulture]], [[Bolle's pigeon]], [[laurel pigeon]], [[plain swift]], and [[houbara bustard]].

Terrestrial fauna includes the [[El Hierro giant lizard]], [[Tachina canariensis]], [[La Gomera giant lizard]], and the (possibly extinct) [[La Palma giant lizard]]. Mammals include the [[Canarian shrew]], [[Canary big-eared bat]], the [[Algerian hedgehog]], and the more recently introduced [[mouflon]].

==== Extinct fauna ====
[[File:Canariomys bravoi skull.JPG|thumb|Skull of [[Tenerife giant rat]] (''Canariomys bravoi''), an endemic species that is now extinct]]
The Canary Islands were previously inhabited by a variety of endemic animals, such as extinct giant lizards (''[[Gallotia goliath]]''), giant tortoises (''[[Centrochelys burchardi]]'' and ''[[Centrochelys vulcanica|C. vulcanica]]''),<ref>[http://www.sepaleontologia.es/revista/anteriores/REP%20Extra%201996/21Castillo.pdf "La Paleontología de vertebrados en Canarias."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001232450/http://www.sepaleontologia.es/revista/anteriores/REP%20Extra%201996/21Castillo.pdf|date=1 October 2018}} ''Spanish Journal of Palaeontology'' (antes ''Revista Española de Paleontología''). Retrieved 17 June 2016.</ref> [[Tenerife giant rat|Tenerife]] and [[Gran Canaria giant rat|Gran Canaria]] giant rats (''Canariomys bravoi'' and ''C. tamarani''),<ref>[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html Algunas extinciones en Canarias] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228151643/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html|date=28 December 2009}} Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación Territorial del Gobierno de Canarias</ref> and the [[lava mouse]] ''Malpaisomys insularis''. The [[Canary Islands oystercatcher]] went extinct in the 20th century, and extinct birds known only from [[Pleistocene]] and [[Holocene]] age bones include the [[Canary Islands quail]] (''Coturnix gomerae''), [[dune shearwater]] (''Puffinus holeae''), [[lava shearwater]] (''P. olsoni''), [[Trias greenfinch]] (''Chloris triasi''), [[slender-billed greenfinch]] (''C. aurelioi'') and the [[long-legged bunting]] (''Emberiza alcoveri'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Illera |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Spurgin |first2=Lewis G. |last3=Rodriguez-Exposito |first3=E. |last4=Nogales |first4=Manuel |last5=Rando |first5=Juan Carlos |year=2016 |title=What are we learning about Speciation and Extinction from the Canary Islands? |journal=Ardeola |volume=63 |issue=1 |pages=15–33 |doi=10.13157/arla.63.1.2016.rp1 |s2cid=55386208 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

=== Marine life ===
{{Main|Marine life of the Canary Islands}}

[[File:Caretta caretta 060417w2.jpg|thumb|A [[loggerhead sea turtle]], by far the most common species of marine turtle in the Canary Islands]]
The [[marine life]] found in the Canary Islands is also varied, being a combination of [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]], [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] and [[endemism|endemic]] species. In recent years, the increasing popularity of both [[scuba diving]] and [[underwater photography]] have provided biologists with much new information on the marine life of the islands.

Fish species found in the islands include many species of [[shark]], [[Batoidea|ray]], [[moray eel]], [[Sparidae|bream]], [[Carangidae|jack]], [[Grunt-fish|grunt]], [[scorpionfish]], [[triggerfish]], [[grouper]], [[goby]], and [[blenny]]. In addition, there are many invertebrate species, including [[sponge]], [[jellyfish]], [[Sea anemone|anemone]], [[crab]], [[mollusc]], [[sea urchin]], [[starfish]], [[Holothuroidea|sea cucumber]] and [[coral]].

There are five species of [[marine turtle]] that are sighted periodically in the islands, the most common of these being the [[endangered]] [[loggerhead sea turtle]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Lissie Wright |author2=Brian Groombridge |title=The IUCN Amphibia-reptilia Red Data Book |url=https://archive.org/details/iucnamphibiarept82groo |year=1982 |publisher=IUCN |isbn=978-2-88032-601-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/iucnamphibiarept82groo/page/140 140] }}</ref> The other four are the [[green sea turtle|green]], [[hawksbill sea turtle|hawksbill]], [[leatherback sea turtle|leatherback]] and [[Kemp's ridley sea turtle|Kemp's ridley]] sea turtles. Currently, there are no signs that any of these species breed in the islands, and so those seen in the water are usually [[Sea turtle migration|migrating]]. However, it is believed that some of these species may have bred in the islands in the past, and there are records of several sightings of leatherback sea turtle on beaches in Fuerteventura, adding credibility to the theory.

Marine mammals include the large varieties of [[cetacean]]s including rare and not well-known species (see more details in the [[Marine life of the Canary Islands]]). [[Hooded seals]]<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Kovacs, K.M. |year=2016 |title=''Cystophora cristata'' |article-number=e.T6204A45225150 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T6204A45225150.en |access-date=29 October 2018 }}</ref> have also been known to be [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] in the Canary Islands every now and then. The Canary Islands were also formerly home to a population of the rarest [[pinniped]] in the world, the [[Mediterranean monk seal]].

=== Native flora gallery ===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
File:Arbutus canariensis2.jpg|''[[Arbutus canariensis]]''
File:Argyranthemum frutescens cv Vera 2.jpg|''[[Argyranthemum frutescens]]''
File:Bosea yervamora berries.JPG|''[[Bosea yervamora]]''
File:Canarina canariensis Tenerife (02).jpg|''[[Canarina canariensis]]''
File:Digitalis (Isoplexis) canariensis by Scott zona - 004.jpg|''[[Digitalis canariensis]]''
File:Tajinaste rojo.jpg|''[[Echium wildpretii]]''
File:Euphorbia canariensis2.jpg|''[[Euphorbia canariensis]]''
File:Gonospermum elegans.jpg|''[[Gonospermum elegans]]''
File:Malva acerifolia var. acerifolia (Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo).jpg|[[Lavatera acerifolia|''Lavatera acerifolia'' var. ''acerifolia'']]
File:Lavatera phoenicea1.jpg|''[[Lavatera phoenicea]]''
File:Lotus berthelotii1.jpg|''[[Lotus berthelotii]]''
File:Pericallis webbii.jpg|''[[Pericallis webbii]]''
File:Persea indica.jpg|''[[Persea indica]]''
File:Phoenix canariensis (Puntallana) 01.jpg|''[[Phoenix canariensis]]''
File:Sonchus palmensis (Barlovento) 04.jpg|''[[Sonchus palmensis]]''
File:Spartocytisus supranubius.jpg|''[[Cytisus supranubius]]''
</gallery>

== Holidays ==
[[File:Danza de Enanos 2015 PMBV.jpg|thumb|upright|The Dance of the Dwarves is one of the most important acts of the Lustral Festivities of the ''Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves'' in [[Santa Cruz de La Palma]].]]
[[File:Bailarines.jpg|thumb|upright|Dancers with typical costume in El Tamaduste ([[El Hierro]])]]
[[File:Banda de Agaete en la Traída del Agua.jpg|thumb|upright|Band of [[Agaete]] in the ''Traída del Agua'' ([[Gran Canaria]])]]
Some holidays of those celebrated in the Canary Islands are international and national, others are regional holidays and others are of insular character. The official day of the autonomous community is [[Canary Islands Day]] on 30 May. The anniversary of the first session of the [[Parliament of the Canary Islands]], based in the city of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], held on 30 May 1983, is commemorated with this day.

The common festive calendar throughout the Canary Islands is as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sede.gobcan.es/sede/calendario_oficial |title=Calendario oficial en Canarias |website=Sede.gobcan.es |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009023128/https://sede.gobcan.es/sede/calendario_oficial |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;margin: 1em auto;"
! width="120" |Date
! width="70" |Name
! width="250" |Data
 |-
| 1 January || [[New Year]]|| International festival.
|-
| 6 January || [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]|| Catholic festival.
|-
| March or April || [[Holy Thursday]] and [[Holy Friday]]|| Christian festival.
|-
| 1 May || [[International Workers' Day]]|| International festival.
|-
| 30 May || [[Canary Islands Day]]|| Day of the autonomous community. Anniversary of the first session of the [[Parliament of the Canary Islands]].
|-
| 15 August || [[Assumption of Mary]] || Catholic festival. This day is festive in the archipelago as in all of Spain. Popularly, in the Canary Islands it is known as the day on which the [[Virgin of Candelaria]] (Saint Patron of Canary Islands) is celebrated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://webtenerife.ru/travel/other/candelaria_2017.pdf |title=Programa de las Fiestas de la Virgen de Candelaria. Agosto de 2017 |website=Webtenerfife.ru |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004025555/http://webtenerife.ru/travel/other/candelaria_2017.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2017/07/candelaria-se-prepara-recibir-agosto-150-000-devotos-la-virgen/ |title=Candelaria se prepara para recibir en agosto a 150.000 devotos de la Virgen |date=20 July 2017 |website=Diariodeavisos.elespanol.com |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004225114/https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2017/07/candelaria-se-prepara-recibir-agosto-150-000-devotos-la-virgen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 12 October || [[Fiesta Nacional de España]] (''Día de la Hispanidad'') || National Holiday of Spain. Commemoration of [[discovery of the Americas]].
|-
| 1 November || [[All Saints' Day]]|| Catholic festival.
|-
| 6 December || [[Constitution Day]]|| Commemoration of the [[Spanish constitutional referendum, 1978]].
|-
| 8 December || [[Immaculate Conception]] || Catholic festival. The Immaculate Conception is the Saint Patron of Spain.
|-
| 25 December || [[Christmas]]|| Christian festival. Commemoration of the birth of [[Jesus of Nazareth]].
|}

In addition, each of the islands has an island festival, in which it is a holiday only on that specific island. These are the festivities of island patrons saints of each island. Organized chronologically are:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ccooendesa.com/sites/default/files/2017-12/171201%20CalendarioLaboral2018%20CA12.pdf |title=Fiestas insulares de Canarias |website=Ccooendesa.com |access-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000550/https://ccooendesa.com/sites/default/files/2017-12/171201%20CalendarioLaboral2018%20CA12.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2018 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;margin: 1em auto;"
! width="120" |Date
! width="70" |Island
! width="250" |Saint/Virgin
 |-
| 2 February || [[Tenerife]]|| [[Our Lady of Candelaria]]
|-
| 5 August || [[La Palma]]|| [[Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major|Our Lady of the Snows]]
|-
| 8 September || [[Gran Canaria]]|| [[Virgen del Pino|Our Lady of the Pine]]
|-
| 15 September || [[Lanzarote]]|| [[Our Lady of Sorrows|Our Lady of Dolours]]
|-
| Third Saturday of the month of September || [[Fuerteventura]]|| [[Our Lady of the Peña]]
|-
| 24 September || [[El Hierro]]|| [[Our Lady of the Kings]]
|-
| Monday following the first Saturday of October || [[La Gomera]]|| [[Our Lady of Guadalupe]]
|}
[[File:Desfile del Sábado de Carnaval, en Santa Cruz de Tenerife.JPG|thumb|Parade in the [[Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]]]
The most famous festivals of the Canary Islands is the carnival. It is the most famous and international festival of the archipelago. The carnival is celebrated in all the islands and all its municipalities, perhaps the two busiest are those of the two Canarian capitals; the [[Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] (''Tourist Festival of International Interest'') and the [[Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]. It is celebrated on the streets between the months of February and March. But the rest of the islands of the archipelago have their carnivals with their own traditions among which stand out: The Festival of the Carneros of [[El Hierro]], the Festival of the Diabletes of [[Teguise (municipality)|Teguise]] in [[Lanzarote]], Los Indianos de [[La Palma]], the Carnival of [[San Sebastián de La Gomera]] and the Carnival of [[Puerto del Rosario]] in [[Fuerteventura]].

==Science and technology==
[[File:Ing telescopes sunset la palma july 2001.jpg|thumb|[[Roque de los Muchachos Observatory]], La Palma]]
In the 1960s, Gran Canaria was selected as the location for one of the 14 [[ground stations]] in the [[Manned Space Flight Network]] (MSFN) to support the [[NASA]] space program. [[Maspalomas Station]], located in the south of the island, took part in a number of space missions including the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landings and [[Skylab]]. Today it continues to support satellite communications as part of the [[ESA]] network.<ref name="esa-page">{{cite web |title=Maspalomas station |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Estrack/Maspalomas_station |website=European Space Agency |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208113652/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Estrack/Maspalomas_station |archive-date=8 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Because of the remote location, a number of [[Observatory|astronomical observatories]] are located in the archipelago, including the [[Teide Observatory]] on Tenerife, the [[Roque de los Muchachos Observatory]] on La Palma, and the [[Temisas Astronomical Observatory]] on Gran Canaria.

Tenerife is the home of the [[Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias]] (Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries). There is also an Instituto de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (Antonio González Bio-Organic Institute) at the [[University of La Laguna]]. Also at that university are the Instituto de Lingüística Andrés Bello (Andrés Bello Institute of Linguistics), the Centro de Estudios Medievales y Renacentistas (Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies), the Instituto Universitario de la Empresa (University Institute of Business), the Instituto de Derecho Regional (Regional Institute of Law), the Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales (University Institute of Political and Social Sciences) and the Instituto de Enfermedades Tropicales (Institute of Tropical Diseases). The latter is one of the seven institutions of the Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET, "Network of Research of Centers of Tropical Diseases"), located in various parts of Spain. The Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands) is based in Tenerife.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

== Sports ==
[[File:RodriguezLopez2008.jpg|thumb|[[Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López|Heliodoro Rodríguez López Stadium]] in Tenerife, the stadium with the largest field area in the Canary Islands<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/cd-tenerife/515014-el-heliodoro-cumple-90-anos.html |title=El Heliodoro Rodríguez López cumple 90 años |first=Javier |last=Alonso |date=25 July 2015 |website=Vavel.com |access-date=22 February 2017 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629080359/http://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/cd-tenerife/515014-el-heliodoro-cumple-90-anos.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lovecanarias.com/lugares/tenerife/estadio-heliodoro-rodriguez-lopez |title=Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López |website=Lovecanarias.com |access-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629080401/http://www.lovecanarias.com/lugares/tenerife/estadio-heliodoro-rodriguez-lopez |archive-date=29 June 2016 }}</ref>]]
[[File:Estadiogc7septiembre2008.jpg|thumb|[[Estadio Gran Canaria|Gran Canaria Stadium]], the biggest sports venue in the Canary Islands<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/europe/countries/spain/canary_islands.shtml |title=Canary Islands Stadiums |website=WorldStadiums.com |access-date=1 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327220017/http://www.worldstadiums.com/europe/countries/spain/canary_islands.shtml |archive-date=27 March 2010 }}</ref>]]
A unique form of wrestling known as [[Canarian wrestling]] (''lucha canaria'') has opponents stand in a special area called a "terrero" and try to throw each other to the ground using strength and quick movements.<ref name="ctspanish.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ctspanish.com/communities/canarym/canary%20islands.htm |title=The Canary Islands |website=Ctspanish.com |date=21 October 1971 |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111212930/http://www.ctspanish.com/communities/canarym/canary%20islands.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another sport is the "game of the sticks" (palo canario) where opponents fence with long sticks. This may have come about from the shepherds of the islands who would challenge each other using their long walking sticks.<ref name="ctspanish.com"/>

Furthermore, there is the [[Salto del pastor|shepherd's jump]] (''salto del pastor''). This involves using a long stick to vault over an open area. This sport possibly evolved from the shepherd's need to occasionally get over an open area in the hills as they were tending their sheep.<ref name="ctspanish.com"/>

The two main [[Association football|football]] teams in the archipelago are: the [[CD Tenerife]] (founded in 1912) and [[UD Las Palmas]] (founded in 1949). As of the 2023/2024 season, UD Las Palmas plays in La Liga, the top tier of Spanish football. CD Tenerife however plays in The Segunda División. When in the same division, the clubs contest the [[Canary Islands derby]]. There are smaller clubs also playing in the mainland [[Spanish football league system]], most notably [[UD Lanzarote]] and [[CD Laguna de Tenerife|CD Laguna]], although no other Canarian clubs have played in the top flight.

The mountainous terrain of the Canary Islands also caters to the growing popularity of [[ultra running]] and [[ultramarathons]] as host of annual competitive long-distance events including [[CajaMar Tenerife Bluetrail]] on [[Tenerife]], [[Transvulcania]] on [[La Palma]], [[Transgrancanaria]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.transgrancanaria.net/en/ |title=Transgrancanaria (English website) |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030214948/https://www.transgrancanaria.net/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on [[Gran Canaria]], and the Half [[Marathon des Sables]] on [[Fuerteventura]]. A yearly [[Ironman Triathlon]] has been taking place on [[Lanzarote]] since 1992.<ref name="ironman">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ironman.com/im-lanzarote |title=IMLanzarote |website=www.ironman.com |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028082756/https://www.ironman.com/im-lanzarote |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ironmanhistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.webdelanzarote.com/ironman.htm |title=Ironman Lanzarote |language=es |website=Web de Lanzarote |access-date=27 August 2019 |archive-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831202519/http://www.webdelanzarote.com/ironman.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Notable athletes ===
* [[Paco Campos]], (1916–1995); a footballer who played as a forward. With 127 goals, 120 of which were for [[Atlético Madrid]], he is the highest scoring player from the Canary Islands in [[La Liga]].
* [[Nicolás García (taekwondo)|Nicolás García]] Hemme, born 20 June 1988 in [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]], Canary Islands, [[2012 London Olympics]], [[Taekwondo]] Silver Medalist in Men's Welterweight category (−80&nbsp;kg).
* [[Al Cabrera|Alfredo Cabrera]], (1881–1964); [[shortstop]] for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in 1913
* [[Sergio Rodríguez]], born in [[San Cristóbal de La Laguna]] in 1986, played [[point guard]] for the [[Portland Trail Blazers]], [[Sacramento Kings]], and [[New York Knicks]].
* [[David Silva]], born in [[Arguineguín]] in 1986, plays [[association football]] for [[Real Sociedad]], member of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] champion [[Spain men's national football team|Spain national football team]]
* [[Juan Carlos Valerón]], born in [[Arguineguín]] in 1975, played [[association football]] for [[Deportivo de La Coruña|Deportivo la Coruna]] and [[UD Las Palmas|Las Palmas]].
* [[Pedro (footballer, born 1987)|Pedro]], born in [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] in 1987, plays [[association football]] for [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]], member of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] champion [[Spain men's national football team|Spain national football team]]
* [[Carla Suárez Navarro]], born in [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] in 1988, professional tennis player
* [[Paola Tirados]], born in [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] in 1980, synchronized swimmer, who participated in the Olympic Games of 2000, 2004 and 2008. She won the silver medal in Beijing in 2008 in the team competition category.
* [[Jesé]], born in [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] in 1993, plays [[association football]] for [[UD Las Palmas|Las Palmas]].
* [[Christo Bezuidenhout]], born in [[Tenerife]] in 1970, played [[rugby union]] for [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]].
* [[Pedri]], born in [[Tegueste]] in 2002, plays [[association football]] for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]].
* [[Misa Rodríguez]], born in [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] in 1999, plays [[association football]] for [[Real Madrid Femenino]]. Member of the 2023 Women's World Cup winning [[Spain women's national football team]].
*[[Nico Paz]], born in [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] in 2004, plays [[association football]] for [[Como 1907|Como]].

== See also ==
{{portal|Islands|Spain}}

=== History ===
* [[Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1797)]]
* [[First Battle of Acentejo]]
* [[Pyramids of Güímar]]
* [[Second Battle of Acentejo]]
* [[Tanausu]]
* [[Tenerife airport disaster]]; the deadliest commercial [[aviation accidents and incidents|aviation disaster]] in history.

=== Geography ===
* [[Cumbre Vieja]], a volcano on La Palma
* [[Guatiza]] (Lanzarote)
* [[La Matanza de Acentejo]]
* [[Los Llanos de Aridane]]
* [[Orotava Valley]]
* [[San Andrés, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|San Andrés]]
*Islands of [[Macaronesia]]
**[[Azores]]
**[[Madeira]]
**[[Cabo Verde]]

=== Culture ===
* [[Canarian cuisine]]
* [[Canarian Spanish]]
* [[Religion in Canary Islands]]
* [[Isleño]]s
* [[Military of the Canary Islands]]
* [[Music of the Canary Islands]]
* [[Silbo Gomero]], a [[whistled language]], is an indigenous variant of Spanish
* [[Tortilla canaria]]
* [[Virgin of Candelaria]] (Patron saint of Canary Islands)

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* Alfred Crosby, ''Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900–1900'' (Cambridge University Press) {{ISBN|0-521-45690-8}}
* Felipe Fernández-Armesto, ''The Canary Islands after the Conquest: The Making of a Colonial Society in the Early-Sixteenth Century'', Oxford U. Press, 1982. {{ISBN|978-0-19-821888-3}}; {{ISBN|0-19-821888-5}}
* Sergio Hanquet, ''Diving in Canaries'', Litografía A. ROMERO, 2001. {{ISBN|84-932195-0-9}}
* Martin Wiemers: ''[http://www.ibigbiology.com/fotos/publicacoes/publicacoes_Wiemers95_TheButterfliesCanaryIslands..pdf The butterflies of the Canary Islands. – A survey on their distribution, biology and ecology (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)]'' – Linneana Belgica 15 (1995): 63–84 & 87–118

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite journal |last=Borgesen |first=F. |date=1973 |title=Marine Algae from the Canary Islands |journal=Taxon |volume=22 |issue=1 |page=150 |doi=10.2307/1218064 |jstor=1218064 |bibcode=1973Taxon..22..150B |issn=0040-0262}}
* {{Cite book |first1=Frederik |last1=Børgesen |first2=Pierre |last2=Frémy |title=Marine algae from the Canary Islands, especially from Teneriffe and Gran Canaria |date=1925 |publisher=Høst in Komm |oclc=1070942615}}
* {{Cite book |title=Tenerife, Canary Islands |date=1994 |publisher=Geologists' Association |editor-first=Greensmith |editor-last=J.T. |last=Gill |first=Robin |isbn=0-900717-62-9 |location=[London] |oclc=31214272}}
* * {{Cite book |title=Lanzarote, Canary Islands |date=2000 |publisher=Geologists' Association |last=Greensmith |first=Trevor |isbn=0-900717-74-2 |location=[London]}}
* {{Cite book |last=Paegelow |first=Claus |title=Bibliografie Kanarische Inseln = Canary Islands bibliography |date=2009 |publisher=Paegelow |isbn=978-3-00-028676-6 |location=Bremen |oclc=551948019}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links | wikt=no | commons=Canary Islands | b=no | n=no | q=no | s=1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Canary Islands | v=no | voy=Canary Islands | species=no | d=no | display=Canary Islands}}
* [https://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/principal/ Canary Islands Government]
* [https://www.hellocanaryislands.com Official tourism website of the Canary Islands]. {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506185900/http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/index.html |date=6 May 2015 }}.
*[https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151216/swirly-clouds-in-the-canaries Cloud vortices near the Canaries, March 2023]. [[NASA Earth Observatory]] POTD for 15 April 2023.

{{Culture of Canary Islands}}
{{Administrative divisions of Spain}}
{{EU Outermost regions}}
{{Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
{{Africa topic|History of}}
{{Africa topic|Climate of}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Canary Islands| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Spain]]
[[Category:Autonomous communities of Spain]]
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Outermost regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Physiographic sections]]