View source for El Hierro

{{Short description|Southwesternmost of the Canary Islands}}
{{Redirect|Hierro}}
{{Expand German|topic=geo|El Hierro|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = El Hierro
| image_name       = Santa Cruz de Tenerife SPOT 1320.jpg
| image_caption    = 
| image_size       = 225
| map_image        = Spain Canary Islands location map El Hierro.svg
| map_caption      = Location of El Hierro in the Canary Islands
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = ''Isla del Meridiano''
| location         = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|27|45|N|18|00|W|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = [[Canary Islands]]
| area_km2         = 268.51
| area_footnotes   = <ref name="instgeonacio">{{cite web |publisher=[[Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain)|Instituto Geográfico Nacional]] |url=http://www.ign.es/ign/layoutIn/faqcgg.do |title=Islas e islotes con superficie superior a 1 Km<sup>2</sup> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722122215/http://www.ign.es/ign/layoutIn/faqcgg.do |archive-date=2015-07-22 }}</ref>
| highest_mount    = [[Pico de Malpaso]]
| elevation_m      = 1501
| country          = Spain
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous Community]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Canary Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
| country_capital_type               = 
| country_capital                    = [[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]]
| country_largest_city_type          = 
| country_largest_city               = 
| country_capital_and_largest_city   = 
| country_largest_city_population    = 
| country_leader_title              = 
| country_leader_name               = 
| population       = 11,659
| population_as_of = start of 2023
| density_km2      = 43.4
| languages        = [[Spanish language|Spanish]], specifically [[Canarian Spanish]]
| ethnic_groups    = 
| timezone1        = [[Western European Time|WET]]
|utc_offset1      = ±00:00
|timezone1_DST    = [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]
|utc_offset1_DST  = +01:00
| additional_info  =
}}
[[File:Flag of El Hierro.svg|thumb|Flag of El Hierro]]
'''El Hierro''' ({{IPA|es|el ˈʝero|pron|Pronunciation_of_El_Hierro_in_Spanish.ogg}}; {{lit|The Iron}}), nicknamed '''''Isla del Meridiano''''' ({{IPA|es|ˈizla ðel meɾiˈðjano|pron}}; {{lit|Meridian Island}}), is the southernmost and westernmost of the [[Canary Islands]] (an [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] of [[Spain]]), in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of [[Africa]], with a population of 11,659 (2023).<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Madrid, 2023.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do?path=%2Ft20%2Fe260%2Fa2010%2Fl0%2F&file=is01.px&type=pcaxis&L=0 |title=Population referred to the January 1, 2018 |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234346/http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do?path=%2Ft20%2Fe260%2Fa2010%2Fl0%2F&file=is01.px&type=pcaxis&L=0 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its capital is [[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]]. At {{Convert|268.51|km2}}, it is the second-smallest of the eight inhabited islands of the Canaries, with [[Graciosa, Canary Islands|La Graciosa]] being the smallest.

== Name ==
[[File:Africa 1595, Gerardus Mercator (3797082-recto).jpg|thumb|left|Africa by [[Gerardus Mercator]] 1595. 'Fierro' is not yet on the [[prime meridian]], although it is close.]]
The name ''El Hierro'', although spelled like the Spanish word for 'iron', is not related to that word. The ''H'' in the name of the metal is derived from the ''F'' of Latin ''ferrum'' (compare  ''higo'' for 'fig'), a phonetic mutation that was complete by the end of the Middle Ages.

The confusion with the name of the metal had effects on the international naming of the island. As early as the 16th century, maps and texts called the island after the word for 'iron' in other languages: Portuguese ''Ferro'', French ''l'île de Fer'',<ref>{{cite book|last=Bory de Saint-Vincent|first=J.B.G.M. |author-link=Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent|title=Essais sur les Isles Fortunées et l'antique Atlantide, ou Précis de l'histoire générale de l'archipel des Canaries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CxEAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA14|year=1803|publisher=Baudouin|location=Paris |page=14}}</ref> and Latin ''[[:File:Map of 1746. Longitudines numeratae a Primo Meridiano per Insula Ferri.jpg|Insula Ferri]]''.

Nevertheless, the origin of the name ''ero'' or ''erro'' or ''yerro'' is not definitely known. It is thought to be derived from one of several words in the [[Guanche language]] of the pre-Hispanic inhabitants, known as [[Bimbache]]s. Juan de Abreu Galindo (in a manuscript translated and published by [[George Glas]] in 1764) gives the native name of the island as Esero (or ''[[:es:Bimbache|Eseró]]''), meaning 'strong'.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Abreu y Galindo|first1=Juan de |last2=Glas|first2=George|title=The history of the discovery and conquest of the Canary islands |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DvPmAAAAMAAJ|year=1764|publisher=R. and J. Dodsley |location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DvPmAAAAMAAJ/page/n257 24]–25}}</ref>
[[Richard Henry Major]], however, in notes on [https://books.google.com/books?id=HVxFaPxOR60C&q=the+canarian his translation] of [https://books.google.com/books?id=1hxHYso0GRMC&q=le+canarien ''Le Canarien''], observes that the [[Guanche language|Guanche]] word ''hero'' or ''herro'', meaning 'cistern', could easily have lapsed into ''hierro'' by a process of [[folk etymology]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bontier |first1=Pierre |last2=Le Verrier|first2=Jean |translator-last=Major |translator-first=Richard Henry|title=The Canarian, or, book of the conquest and conversion of the Canarians in the year 1402|url=https://archive.org/details/canarianorbookof00inbont|year=1872|publisher=Hakluyt Society|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/canarianorbookof00inbont/page/124 124]}}</ref> It is believed that the Bimbaches had to construct cisterns to save fresh rainwater. The ''Gran diccionario guanche''<ref>{{citation | title=Gran diccionario guanche : el diccionario de la lengua de los aborígenes canarios 
| last=Osorio Acevedo 
| first= Francisco
| year=2003
| publisher= Centro de la Cultura Popular Canaria 
| place=Tenerife}} 
</ref> gives the meaning of the Guanche word ''hero'' in Spanish as "fuente" ('spring [water source]').

== History ==
[[File:El Hierro Virgen de la Caridad.JPG|thumb|right|Virgen de la Caridad Chapel]]
The ancient natives of the island, called ''[[Bimbache]]s'', were subjected to Spanish rule by [[Jean de Béthencourt]] (d.1425) – more by the process of negotiation than by military action.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} portal |url=https://www.elhierro.es/en/history |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=www.elhierro.es}}</ref> Béthencourt had as his ally and negotiator Augeron, brother of the island's native monarch. Augeron had been captured years before by the Europeans and now served as mediator between the Europeans and the Guanches. In return for control over the island, Béthencourt promised to respect the liberty of the natives, but his son eventually broke his promise, selling many of the ''bimbaches'' into [[slavery]]. Many Frenchmen and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicians]] subsequently settled on the island. There was a revolt of the natives against the harsh treatment of the governor Lázaro Vizcaíno, but it was suppressed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Hierro - Spain - tourist sights on the map |url=https://tropki.com/spain/el-hierro |access-date=2025-09-10 |website=tropki.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Landslides and tsunami===
There is evidence of at least three major [[volcanic landslide|landslides]] that have affected El Hierro in the last few hundred thousand years.<ref name="Masson_2002">{{cite journal|last1=Masson|first1=D.G.|last2=Watts|first2=A.B.|last3=Gee|first3=M.J.R.|last4=Urgeles|first4=R.|last5=Mitchell|first5=N.C.|last6=Le Bas|first6=T.P.|last7=Canals|first7=M.|year=2002|title=Slope failures on the flanks of the western Canary Islands|journal=[[Earth-Science Reviews]]|publisher=Elsevier|volume=57|issue=1–2|pages=1–35|doi=10.1016/S0012-8252(01)00069-1|url=http://geomar.geo.ub.es/eurodom/documents/Massonetal01_ESR.pdf|access-date=29 August 2011|bibcode=2002ESRv...57....1M|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804011507/http://geomar.geo.ub.es/eurodom/documents/Massonetal01_ESR.pdf|archive-date=4 August 2011}}</ref> The most recent of these was the 'El Golfo' landslide that occurred about 15,000 years ago, involving collapse of the northern flank of the island. The landslide formed the El Golfo valley and created a debris avalanche with a volume of 150–180&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>. [[Turbidite]] deposits related to this landslide have been recognized in drill cores from the Agadir Basin to the north of the Canary Islands.<ref name="Masson_2006">{{cite journal|last1=Masson|first1=D.G.|last2=Harbitz |first2=C.B. |last3=Wynn |first3=R.B. |last4=Pedersen |first4=G. |last5=Løvholt |first5=F. |year=2006|title=Submarine landslides: processes, triggers and hazard prediction|journal=[[Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A]]|publisher=Royal Society|location=London|volume=364|issue=1845|pages=2009–2039|doi=10.1098/rsta.2006.1810|pmid=16844646|bibcode = 2006RSPTA.364.2009M |s2cid=11012536}}</ref> Detailed analysis of these deposits suggests that the slope failure did not occur as a single event but a series of smaller failures over a period of hours or days. Local [[tsunami]] are likely to have been triggered by these landslides but no evidence has been found to confirm this.<ref name="Masson_2002"/> [[File:Coast El Golfo.JPG|thumb|Coast El Golfo, El Hierro]]

===2011 seismic activity===
{{main|2011–12 El Hierro eruption}}
The Instituto Vulcanológico de Canarias (Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands) and [[Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain)|National Geographic Institute]]'s seismic monitoring station located in [[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]] detected increased [[seismic]] activity beginning on 17 July 2011.<ref name=swarm/> The seismic monitoring network was increased in density on 21 July to allow better detection and location of the seismic events.<ref name=swarm/> There was an [[earthquake swarm]] with in excess of 400 minor [[earthquake|tremors]] between 20 July and 24 July;<ref name=swarm>{{Cite news|title=Canary Islands Government Monitors El Hierro Earthquake Swarm |work=Sign of the Times |agency=Irish Weather Online |url=http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earth-science/geology/620-earthquakes-recorded-on-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands/28244.html |date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926190444/http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earth-science/geology/620-earthquakes-recorded-on-el-hierro-in-the-canary-islands/28244.html |archive-date=2011-09-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> by 27 July a further 320 earthquakes had been recorded.<ref>{{Cite news|title=More Than 720 Earthquakes Recorded On El Hierro In One Week |work=Reality-Choice.org |agency=Irish Weather Online |url=http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/more-than-720-earthquakes-recorded-on-el-hierro-in-one-week/28759.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227211552/http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earthquakesvolcanos/more-than-720-earthquakes-recorded-on-el-hierro-in-one-week/28759.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 December 2016 |date=27 July 2011 }}</ref> On 25 August there were reports that some horizontal deformation had been detected, but that there was no unusual vertical deformation.<ref name=sismico>{{Cite news |first=Daniel |last=Martin |title=El enjambre sísmico de El Hierro suma más de 4.000 terremotos |work=[[Suite101]] |url=http://www.suite101.net/news/el-enjambre-sismico-de-el-hierro-suma-mas-de-4000-terremotos-a64499 |date=25 August 2011 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923093810/http://www.suite101.net/news/el-enjambre-sismico-de-el-hierro-suma-mas-de-4000-terremotos-a64499 |archive-date=23 September 2011 }}</ref> At that time, the total number of tremors had exceeded 4,000.<ref name=sismico/> By the end of September, the tremors had increased in frequency and intensity, with experts fearing landslides affecting the town of [[Frontera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|La Frontera]], and also a small possibility of a volcanic eruption through a new vent. Emergency services evacuated several families in the areas at most risk, and made plans to evacuate the island if necessary.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Perez-Torrado |first1=F. J. |last2=Carracedo |first2=J. C. |last3=Rodríguez-González |first3=A. |last4=Soler |first4=V. |last5=Troll |first5=V. R. |last6=Wiesmaier |first6=S. |date=2012-06-30 |title=La erupción submarina de La Restinga en la isla de El Hierro, Canarias: Octubre 2011-Marzo 2012 |url=http://estudiosgeol.revistas.csic.es/index.php/estudiosgeol/article/view/870 |journal=[[Estudios Geológicos]] |language=es |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=5–27 |doi=10.3989/egeol.40918.179 |hdl=10553/44225 |issn=1988-3250 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Between 4;15 and 4:20&nbsp;a.m. on 10 October 2011 the earthquake swarm changed behaviour and produced a [[harmonic tremor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seismogram for El Hierro |publisher=[[Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain)|Instituto Geográfico Nacional]] |url=http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=CHIE_2011-10-10&ver=s&estacion=CHIE&Anio=2011&Mes=10&Dia=10&tipo=1 |date=10 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012100532/http://www.ign.es/ign/head/volcaSenalesAnterioresDia.do?nombreFichero=CHIE_2011-10-10&ver=s&estacion=CHIE&Anio=2011&Mes=10&Dia=10&tipo=1 |archive-date=12 October 2011 }}</ref> Harmonic tremors are produced by [[magma]] movements and can indicate that an eruption has begun.  Later the same day a small submarine eruption began, 7&nbsp;km south of [[La Restinga]].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Bernardo |last1=Marin |first2=R. |last2=Mendez Valverde |title=La erupción volcánica submarina de El Hierro libera magma y gases en el océano |work=[[El País]] |date=11 October 2011 |language=es |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Instituto/Geografico/Nacional/apunta/erupcion/submarina/marcha/Hierro/elpepusoc/20111010elpepusoc_5/Tes}}</ref> On 11 October the volcanic threat level at La Restinga was raised from "yellow" to "red" after minor rockfalls on the slopes above the town.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |last3=Zaczek |first3=Kirsten |last4=Rodríguez-González |first4=Alejandro |last5=Soler |first5=Vicente |last6=Deegan |first6=Frances M. |date=2015-11-01 |title=The 2011–2012 submarine eruption off El Hierro, Canary Islands: New lessons in oceanic island growth and volcanic crisis management |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001282521530009X |journal=Earth-Science Reviews |language=en |volume=150 |pages=168–200 |doi=10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.06.007 |bibcode=2015ESRv..150..168C |issn=0012-8252|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Temporary evacuation of the 600 inhabitants was ordered and, despite a reduction in activity, they were still unable to return 20 days later.<ref name="El_Pais_31_10">{{Cite news |date=31 October 2011 |title=How not to handle a volcanic eruption |work=[[El País]] |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/10/31/inenglish/1320042044_850210.html |access-date=24 May 2020}}</ref>
As of 7 November 2011 a confirmed [[Surtseyan eruption|surtseyan]] type of eruption phase has started at the fissure. On 4 December 2011 the eruption was ongoing with vigorous phreatic bubbles emerging.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Hugh-Jones | title=Canary Island volcano: A new island in the making? | work=[[BBC News]] |agency=[[Public Radio International]] | date=4 December 2011 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15917740}}</ref> After the 2011 eruption, fossils of single-celled marine organisms were found in restingolites, a type of [[tephra]], that were released into the water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150122084539.htm|title=Fossils survive volcanic eruption to tell us about the origin of the Canary Islands|website=ScienceDaily|language=en|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref>

== Climate ==
The precise climate of El Hierro depends on the area. The climate ranges are from [[subtropical]] [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] (''Csa'' / ''Csb'') in the center of the island, to [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] (''BSh'') and to a [[hot desert climate|desert climate]] (''BWh'') in coastal sections (according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]). It also has [[tropical climate]] (''As'') influences on some areas, as the coldest month average temperature does not fall below {{Convert|18|C|F}}, but as precipitation is very low, the arid/semi-arid climate overlaps with the tropical climate, and therefore, its official classification according to AEMET is semi-arid or arid, depending on the exact area of the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España: 1951-2020 |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=[[AEMET]]}}</ref> The temperatures are greatly influenced by the ocean. This is the climate chart from [[El Hierro Airport]], which is the only airport in the island:

{{Weather box
|location = [[El Hierro Airport]]<br>[[Location identifier#WMO station identifiers|WMO ID]]: 60001; Climate ID: C929I; coordinates {{coordinates|27|49|08|N|17|53|20|W}}; elevation: {{cvt|32|m}}; 1991–2020 provisional normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1973–present<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/99e6e479
|title = Weather station data
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 14 December 2024
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20241128111913/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/99e6e479
|archive-date = 2024-11-28}}</ref>
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high C = 28.5
|Feb record high C = 29.4
|Mar record high C = 32.6
|Apr record high C = 33.2
|May record high C = 31.4
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 32.4
|Aug record high C = 33.8
|Sep record high C = 33.6
|Oct record high C = 35.4
|Nov record high C = 32.6
|Dec record high C = 28.3
|year record high C = 35.4
|Jan avg record high C = 23.8
|Feb avg record high C = 24.2
|Mar avg record high C = 25.4
|Apr avg record high C = 25.0
|May avg record high C = 26.1
|Jun avg record high C = 26.7
|Jul avg record high C = 27.6
|Aug avg record high C = 28.4
|Sep avg record high C = 28.8
|Oct avg record high C = 29.3
|Nov avg record high C = 27.3
|Dec avg record high C = 24.9
|year avg record high C = 30.8
|Jan high C = 21.0
|Feb high C = 20.8
|Mar high C = 21.2
|Apr high C = 21.8
|May high C = 22.8
|Jun high C = 24.1
|Jul high C = 25.1
|Aug high C = 26.1
|Sep high C = 26.5
|Oct high C = 25.8
|Nov high C = 23.7
|Dec high C = 22.1
|year high C = 23.4
|Jan mean C = 19.1
|Feb mean C = 18.8
|Mar mean C = 19.2
|Apr mean C = 19.7
|May mean C = 20.7
|Jun mean C = 22.1
|Jul mean C = 23.1
|Aug mean C = 24.1
|Sep mean C = 24.5
|Oct mean C = 23.7
|Nov mean C = 21.9
|Dec mean C = 20.2
|year mean C = 21.4
|Jan low C = 17.0
|Feb low C = 16.8
|Mar low C = 17.1
|Apr low C = 17.5
|May low C = 18.6
|Jun low C = 20.0
|Jul low C = 21.2
|Aug low C = 22.1
|Sep low C = 22.4
|Oct low C = 21.6
|Nov low C = 19.9
|Dec low C = 18.2
|year low C = 19.4
|Jan avg record low C = 14.3
|Feb avg record low C = 14.3
|Mar avg record low C = 14.7
|Apr avg record low C = 15.2
|May avg record low C = 16.8
|Jun avg record low C = 18.5
|Jul avg record low C = 19.8
|Aug avg record low C = 20.8
|Sep avg record low C = 20.5
|Oct avg record low C = 19.1
|Nov avg record low C = 17.1
|Dec avg record low C = 15.6
|year avg record low C = 13.0
|Jan record low C = 8.0
|Feb record low C = 9.0
|Mar record low C = 9.2
|Apr record low C = 10.0
|May record low C = 10.0
|Jun record low C = 10.0
|Jul record low C = 14.0
|Aug record low C = 14.2
|Sep record low C = 15.2
|Oct record low C = 11.0
|Nov record low C = 12.0
|Dec record low C = 9.6
|year record low C = 8.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 27.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 24.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 20.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 14.3
|May precipitation mm = 2.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 1.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 3.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 17.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 30.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 41.3
|year precipitation mm = 185.3
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan precipitation days = 3.4
|Feb precipitation days = 3.1
|Mar precipitation days = 2.8
|Apr precipitation days = 1.9
|May precipitation days = 0.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0.4
|Jul precipitation days = 0.1
|Aug precipitation days = 0.4
|Sep precipitation days = 0.7
|Oct precipitation days = 2.9
|Nov precipitation days = 3.6
|Dec precipitation days = 4.3
|year precipitation days = 24.3
|Jan humidity = 71
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 72
|Apr humidity = 73
|May humidity = 72
|Jun humidity = 74
|Jul humidity = 76
|Aug humidity = 77
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 74
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 71
|year humidity = 73
|Jan sun = 161
|Feb sun = 170
|Mar sun = 208
|Apr sun = 222
|May sun = 257
|Jun sun = 255
|Jul sun = 242
|Aug sun = 248
|Sep sun = 231
|Oct sun = 205
|Nov sun = 159
|Dec sun = 155
|year sun = 2520
|Jan percentsun = 49
|Feb percentsun = 54
|Mar percentsun = 56
|Apr percentsun = 58
|May percentsun = 62
|Jun percentsun = 61
|Jul percentsun = 57
|Aug percentsun = 61
|Sep percentsun = 63
|Oct percentsun = 57
|Nov percentsun = 49
|Dec percentsun = 48
|year percentsun = 56
|source 1 = [[State Meteorological Agency]]/AEMET OpenData<ref name=extremes>{{cite web
|url = http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=coo&l=C929I&datos=det
|title  = Valores extremos. Hierro Aeropuerto
|publisher = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología 
|language = es
|access-date = January 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/0979bced
|title = Extremes
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 14 December 2024
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20241214151151/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/0979bced
|archive-date = 2024-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/789b16c7
|title = Normal
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 14 December 2024
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20241214151046/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/789b16c7
|archive-date = 2024-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData 
|title = AEMET OpeenData 
|publisher = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]] 
|access-date = 2024-11-13}}</ref><!--
|source 2 = [[NCEI]] (Sunshine hours)<ref>{{cite web
|url = 
|title = La Palma Aeropuerto Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[NOAA]]
|access-date = 10 December 2024
|language = en-us
}}</ref>-->
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Hierro Airport, 1981-2010 normals
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high C = 20.9
|Feb high C = 20.8
|Mar high C = 21.4
|Apr high C = 21.6
|May high C = 22.6
|Jun high C = 24.0
|Jul high C = 25.0
|Aug high C = 26.1
|Sep high C = 26.5
|Oct high C = 25.6
|Nov high C = 23.7
|Dec high C = 22.2
|year high C = 23.3
|Jan mean C = 18.8
|Feb mean C = 18.6
|Mar mean C = 19.0
|Apr mean C = 19.3
|May mean C = 20.3
|Jun mean C = 21.7
|Jul mean C = 22.8
|Aug mean C = 23.7
|Sep mean C = 24.1
|Oct mean C = 23.3
|Nov mean C = 21.6
|Dec mean C = 20.0
|year mean C = 21.1
|Jan low C = 16.6
|Feb low C = 16.4
|Mar low C = 16.7
|Apr low C = 17.0
|May low C = 17.9
|Jun low C = 19.3
|Jul low C = 20.5
|Aug low C = 21.3
|Sep low C = 21.7
|Oct low C = 20.9
|Nov low C = 19.5
|Dec low C = 17.8
|year low C = 18.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 28
|Feb precipitation mm = 38
|Mar precipitation mm = 25
|Apr precipitation mm = 13
|May precipitation mm = 2
|Jun precipitation mm = 1
|Jul precipitation mm = 0
|Aug precipitation mm = 1
|Sep precipitation mm = 3
|Oct precipitation mm = 14
|Nov precipitation mm = 37
|Dec precipitation mm = 44
|year precipitation mm = 206
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 3.1
|Feb precipitation days = 2.7
|Mar precipitation days = 2.8
|Apr precipitation days = 1.5
|May precipitation days = 0.7
|Jun precipitation days = 0.3
|Jul precipitation days = 0.0
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 0.6
|Oct precipitation days = 2.5
|Nov precipitation days = 3.3
|Dec precipitation days = 4.6
|year precipitation days = 22.5
|Jan humidity = 74
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 74
|Apr humidity = 74
|May humidity = 74
|Jun humidity = 75
|Jul humidity = 77
|Aug humidity = 78
|Sep humidity = 77
|Oct humidity = 76
|Nov humidity = 74
|Dec humidity = 74
|year humidity = 75
|Jan sun = 140
|Feb sun = 157
|Mar sun = 192
|Apr sun = 204
|May sun = 243
|Jun sun = 242
|Jul sun = 221
|Aug sun = 239
|Sep sun = 215
|Oct sun = 194
|Nov sun = 152
|Dec sun = 139
|year sun = 2382
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref name=AEM>{{cite web
|url = http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C929I&k=coo
|title = Valores climatológicos normales. Hierro Aeropuerto
|publisher = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] 
|language = es
|access-date = January 14, 2013
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20241214151451/https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C929I&k=coo
|archive-date = 2024-12-14}}</ref>}}

===Note===
{{notelist}}

==Geography, flora and fauna==
[[File:Gallotia simonyi.jpg|thumb|[[El Hierro giant lizard]]]]
El Hierro's size and geography supports entirely endemic species including the critically endangered [[El Hierro giant lizard]] (''Gallotia simonyi''), for which there is a captive breeding programme, allowing its reintroduction.<ref name=Unesco/>

The non-barren parts of the interior rely on [[relief precipitation]], not much more than the average of 19 rainfall days per year, high relative humidity and geothermal springs. These non-arid parts have thermophilous (geothermal heat-liking) [[juniper]] clumps and a pine forest with other evergreens.<ref name=Unesco/>
In 2000, El Hierro was designated by [[UNESCO]] as a [[Biosphere Reserve]], with 60% of its territory protected to preserve its natural and cultural diversity.<ref name=Unesco>{{Cite web|title=Biosphere Reserve Information, Spain, Isla de El Hierro |work=[[Man and the Biosphere Programme]] |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |url=http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=SPA+16 }}</ref> Among [[cetacean]]s in these waters, it is notable that several species of lesser known [[beaked whale]]s inhabit around the island.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Manuel |last1=Carrillo |first2=Marisa |last2=Tejedor |others=Illustrations by Sergio H. Bello |title= Los Zifios en las islas Canarias |journal=El Indiferente |publisher=Centro de Educacion Ambiental Municipal |volume=19 |date=May 2007 |language=es |url=http://www.canariasconservacion.org/Documentos/Zifios.El%20Indiferente.pdf}}</ref>

Like the rest of the [[Canary Islands]] chain, El Hierro is volcanic and sharply mountainous.<ref name="Academic Press">{{Citation|last1=Carracedo|first1=Juan Carlos|title=North-East Atlantic Islands: The Macaronesian Archipelagos|date=2021-01-01|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=2021-03-17|last2=Troll|first2=Valentin R.|s2cid=226588940 |editor2-last=Elias|editor2-first=Scott A.|url-access=subscription}}</ref> One eruption has to date been recorded on the island, but is not confirmed: from the Volcan de Lomo Negro vent in 1793, lasting a month.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Geology of the Canary Islands - 1st Edition|url=https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-geology-of-the-canary-islands/troll/978-0-12-809663-5|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.elsevier.com|date=26 May 2016 |isbn=978-0-12-809663-5 |last1=Troll |first1=Valentin R. |last2=Carracedo |first2=Juan Carlos |publisher=Elsevier Science }}</ref> A submarine eruption occurred, however, offshore La Restinga village in 2011/2012.<ref name="Academic Press"/> Except as landscaped at its harbour towns the shore is rocky and in places precipitous.

El Hierro is a {{convert|268.71|km2|adj=on}}<ref name="instgeonacio"/> island, formed late, about 1.2 million years ago<ref>{{cite book|last1=Carracedo|first1=Juan Carlos|last2=Day|first2=Simon|title=Canary Islands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MmxPAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA2|year=2002|publisher=Terra|isbn=978-1-903544-07-5|page=2}}</ref> after three successive eruptions, the island emerged from the ocean as a triangle of [[basalt]]ic [[dyke (geology)|dykes]] topped with a [[volcanic]] cone more than 2,000 metres high.<ref name=geologia>{{Cite web |title=El Hierro, La isla, Geología |work=Cabildo de El Hierro |url=http://www.elhierro.es/index.php?item=00000032 |language=es |access-date=2011-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721193643/http://www.elhierro.es/index.php?item=00000032 |archive-date=2015-07-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> With continued activity resulting in the island expanding to have the largest number of [[volcano]]es in the Canaries (over 500 cones, another 300 covered by more recent deposits), together with approximately 70 caves and volcanic galleries, including the [[Cueva de Don Justo]] whose collection of channels exceeds 6&nbsp;km.<ref name=geologia/> Landslides, plant erosion and seasonal wind erosion have reduced the size and height of the island.<ref name=geologia/>
The current highest point is in the middle of the island, in Malpaso, at {{Convert|1501|m}} high.

==Tourism and transportation==
[[File:Miradorlapeña2009.JPG|thumb|right|Mirador de la Peña, El Hierro]]
Like all of the Canary Islands, El Hierro is a tourist destination. It is served by a small airport—[[El Hierro Airport]] at Valverde—and a ferry terminal at [[Puerto de la Estaca]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elhierro.tv/ferries.html |work=El Portal de la Isla de El Hierro |title=Islas Canarias: Ferries – Fähren – Ferry}}</ref> both of which connect to [[Tenerife]].  Though El Hierro has a [[Paradores|Parador]], hotel accommodations are generally in small family enterprises; as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, El Hierro has limited construction to less than half of its total surface and buildings to two floors, maintaining its traditional look and social structure more than the other six major Canary Islands.

== Political organization ==
The island is part of the [[province (Spain)|province]] of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], and includes three municipalities:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Name
! rowspan="2" | Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
! colspan="3" | Census Population
! rowspan="2" | Estimated<br>Population<br />(2023)<ref>Estimate of 1 January 2023: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
|-
! 2001<ref>Census of 1 November 2001: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
! 2011<ref>Census of 1 November 2011: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
! 2021<ref>Census of 1 January 2021: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
|-
|[[Frontera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Frontera]]
| align="right" |84.20
| align="right" |4,455
| align="right" |3,984
| align="right" |4,278
| align="right" |4,483
|-
|[[El Pinar, Canary Islands|El Pinar]] 
| align="right" |80.66
| align="right" |0<ref>total included in figure for Frontera. The new Municipality of El Pinar was created in 2007 by splitting off the former southern portion of the Municipality of Frontera.</ref>
| align="right" |1,750
| align="right" |1,936
| align="right" |2,027
|-
|[[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]]
| align="right" |103.65
| align="right" |4,227
| align="right" |4,992
| align="right" |5,076
| align="right" |5,149
|- style="background-color:#F6F6F6; font-weight:bold;"
|Totals
| align="right" |268.51
| align="right" |8,682
| align="right" |10,736
| align="right" |11,290
| align="right" |11,659
|}

[[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]] is situated in the northeast and [[Frontera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Frontera]] in the west, both contain several villages.

The seat of the island government (''cabildo insular'') is in the town of Valverde, which houses approximately half of the island's population.

== Migration ==
El Hierro and the Canaries have become bases for migration out of Africa. In early October 2023 boats carrying well over one thousand migrants had arrived within a few days<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=red |first=ORF at/Agenturen |date=2023-10-06 |title=Hohe Zahl an Geflüchteten überfordert kleine Kanaren-Insel |url=https://orf.at/stories/3333765/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=news.ORF.at |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-06 |title=Ten boats carrying nearly 900 migrants arrive in the Canary Islands this Friday |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Ten-boats-carrying-nearly-900-migrants-arrive-in-the-Canary-Islands-this-Friday |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Canarian Weekly |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-06 |title=Canary Islands appeal for help as 1,200 migrants arrive in 48 hours |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/06/canary-islands-perplexed-by-spanish-governments-silence-as-1200-migrants-arrive-in-48-hour |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> many of them on "Spanish [[Lampedusa]]".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-06 |title=Canary Island El Hierro overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds of migrants |url=https://globeecho.com/news/europe/germany/canary-island-el-hierro-overwhelmed-by-the-arrival-of-hundreds-of-migrants/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=Globe Echo |language=en}}</ref> "It is believed that the increase in arrivals in the Canary Islands is linked to the political and social crisis in [[Senegal]]."<ref name=":1" />

== The "Meridian Island" ==
{{unreferenced section|date = February 2019}}
{{Main|Ferro Meridian}}
[[File:Map of 1746. Longitudines numeratae a Primo Meridiano per Insula Ferri.jpg|thumb|[[:commons:File:Superiorem Silesiam AD1746.jpg|Part of map]] of [[Upper Silesia]] (1746) with Latin message: ''Longitudines numeratæ à primo Meridiano per '''Ins'''[ula] '''Ferri''''' ("Longitudes numbered from the prime meridian at Ferro Island.").]]
El Hierro was used in various parts of Europe for more than 500 years as the [[prime meridian]], especially outside of the future [[British Empire]]. By the 2nd century [[Common Era|CE]], [[Ptolemy]] already considered a definition of the zero meridian based on the westernmost piece of land in the (known) world, giving a few maps with only positive, eastern longitudes.<ref>{{cite book|access-date=29 November 2017|date=2008|language=es|publisher=Fundación Canaria Orotava|title=Canarias, otra mirada. Viajeros, exploradores y naturalistas. Cuaderno de Actividades|isbn=9788461210695 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c_fNJEaw8GkC&dq=punta+de+orchilla+y+el+meridiano+expedici%C3%B3n+francesa&pg=PA40}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>

In 1634, in France, as ruled by [[Louis XIII]] and his minister [[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]], it was decided that Ferro's meridian should be used as a key reference of maps, in consideration of the island's historic meridian and status as the westernmost-known land of peoples of the [[Old World|'Known World']]. [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores Island]] is the westernmost [[Azores|Azore]] discovered by the [[Portuguese navigators]] in the early 15th century—after the [[First Voyage of Columbus]] in 1492 scholars and cartographers sometimes grouped them among the new world.  The Paris elite considered El Hierro to be exactly 20° west of the [[Paris meridian]] ({{frac|1|18}}th of its relevant [[parallel (geography)|parallel]] of the globe).{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Old{{clarify|date=October 2019}} international maps (outside of Anglo-North American realms) often have a common grid with Paris degrees at the top and Ferro degrees (offset by 20 from Paris) at the bottom. [[Louis Feuillée]] also worked on this problem in 1724.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

== Festivals ==
The most important festival of El Hierro is the ''Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes'', held every four years, on the first Saturday of July (the last occasion was in 2025, and the next will be in 2029). During the festival, the Virgin of the Kings (''Virgen de los Reyes'', patron saint of the island of El Hierro) is taken from her sanctuary in La Dehesa (in the municipality of [[La Frontera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|La Frontera]]) and carried to the capital of the island, [[Valverde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Valverde]], making a tour of 44 kilometres and running through all the towns of El Hierro.

The annual festival of the Virgin is celebrated every September 24.

== Natural symbols ==
{{Main|List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands}}
The official natural symbols associated with El Hierro are ''[[Gallotia simonyi machadoi]]'' (El Hierro giant lizard) and ''[[Juniperus phoenicea]]'' (Sabina).<ref>[http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html Ley 7/1991, de 30 de abril, de símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias]</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Lagarto Gigante de El Hierro, Canarias, España.JPG|''[[Gallotia simonyi machadoi]]''
File:El Hierro Sabinar.JPG|''[[Juniperus phoenicea]]''
</gallery>

== Energy ==
[[File:Wind turbine 2.5mw on el hierro island.jpg|thumb|Assembly of the first of five wind turbines with 2.5 MW each]]
According to the Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Commerce, El Hierro hopes to become the first island in the world to be self-sufficient for electrical energy. This will be achieved through a €54 million project combining a greater than 11-[[megawatt]] [[wind farm]] and two hydroelectric projects.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Lauren |last=Frayer |title=Tiny Spanish Island Nears Its Goal: 100 Percent Renewable Energy |work=[[Weekend Edition]] Sunday |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=28 September 2014 |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/09/17/349223674/tiny-spanish-island-nears-its-goal-100-percent-renewable-energy}}</ref><ref>[http://www.insula-elhierro.com/english.htm El Hierro 100% RES web site with articles, animation and references to partner organizations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123051307/http://www.insula-elhierro.com/english.htm |date=November 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://old.insula.org/islandsonline/El%20Hierro-1.pdf Article titled "Sun, wind and water The new El Hierro island's allies" in pdf format] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613095459/http://old.insula.org/islandsonline/El%20Hierro-1.pdf |date=June 13, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |first=Andrés |last=Cala |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/business/global/20iht-rbogisle.html |title=Tiny Spanish Island Has a Huge Stake in the Future |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=19 January 2011}}</ref>

This hydro and wind-power project, created by the local Gorona del Viento El Hierro consortium with financial aid from the [[European Union]], and officially inaugurated in 2015, consists of five [[Enercon|E-70]] [[wind turbine]]s capable of producing 11.5 megawatts of [[wind power]] to supply electricity for approximately 11,000 residents, an additional number of tourists, and three water [[desalination]] facilities. The [[Wind-hydro hybrid power system|hybrid wind/pumped hydro storage]] system stores surplus [[wind power]] by pumping water up 700 metres (approximately 2,300 feet) to the crater of an extinct volcano.  When winds are calm or when demand exceeds supply, water is released from the crater to generate 11.3 MW of electricity, filling a smaller artificial basin created at the bottom of the extinct volcano. Water in the lower basin is then pumped back up again to the upper reservoir when there is excess wind power.<ref name="NYTimes"/>

The closed-loop hybrid wind/hydro system is expected to save approximately US$4M per year (calculated with January 2011 oil prices) previously spent on about 40,000 barrels of crude oil imported annually, attempting to make the island completely self-sufficient for electrical energy.<ref name="NYTimes"/><ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Murray |title=Wind power was Spain's top source of electricity in 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date= 6 January 2014 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/06/wind-power-spain-electricity-2013}}</ref>

2016 was the first whole year for the power plant and it reached 40.7% of the total demand, reducing consumption of diesel by 6,000 tonnes. In 2017, the share climbed to 46.5%.<ref name="steamgreen.unibo.it">{{Cite web|url=http://steamgreen.unibo.it/2018/03/04/gorona-del-viento-wind-sails/|title = Gorona del Viento has the wind on its sails|date = 4 March 2018}}</ref> The installation also powers a desalination plant that provides fresh water.<ref>[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57766ea7d482e9b4340d1531/t/57f4eaaed482e9ea7f3ff323/1475668686930/El+Hierro+Wind-Pumped+hydro+power+station%2C+Alberto+Castaneda+Quintero.pdf EL HIERRO WIND-PUMPED HYDRO POWER STATION] page 15</ref>

In early 2018, El Hierro covered its entire electricity demand between 25 January and 12 February with its renewable resource base, avoiding the use of polluting energy sources for more than 560 hours in 2018—and a total of almost 2,000 hours since it started operating.<ref name="steamgreen.unibo.it"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://euanmearns.com/el-hierro-fourth-quarter-2018-performance-update/|title = El Hierro fourth quarter 2018 performance update|date = 6 January 2019}}</ref>

== Bimbache openART Festival ==
The Bimbache openART Festival and Global Initiative for Arts and Sustainability, founded in 2005 by German-born guitarist [[Torsten de Winkel]] and other community activists, is a non-profit effort at creating an interdisciplinary platform which seeks to bridge traditional divides, both on a musical and human level, in a globalizing world. The festival is a contribution of the international artist community to El Hierro's "Sustainable Island" program and collaborates with scientists and sustainability-oriented organizations from around the world.

== El Hierro in literature ==
The island of Hierro is mentioned (1) in [[Umberto Eco]]'s novel ''[[The Island of the Day Before]]'' (''{{lang|it|L'isola del giorno prima}}'', 1994), about a 17th-century Italian nobleman trapped on an island on the [[International Date Line]]; (2) in [[Christopher Isherwood]]'s short story "The Turn Round the World", collected in his ''Exhumations'' (1966); and (3) in the first chapter of [[Steven Callahan]]'s (1986) maritime chronicle "Adrift", in which El Hierro is his final port of departure for an ill-fated Atlantic crossing.

== See also ==
{{portal|Spain|Islands}}
* [[Geology of the Canary Islands]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Spain]]
* [[Prime meridian]]

== Notes ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/el-hierro-island/ El Hierro – official tourism website of the Canary Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117200603/http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/el-hierro-island/ |date=2012-01-17 }}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Hierro|short=x}}
* http://euanmearns.com/el-hierro-fourth-quarter-2018-performance-update/
* {{cite gvp|name=Hierro|vn=383020|access-date=2021-06-26}}

{{El Hierro}}
{{Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:El Hierro| ]]
[[Category:Islands of the Canary Islands]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of the Canary Islands]]
[[Category:Meridians (geography)]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Spain]]
[[Category:Protected areas of the Canary Islands]]