Gran Canaria – now a World Biosphere Reserve
For visitors to the island, Gran Canaria is renowed for its variety of scenery and landscapes. Here, one may appreciate the wonders of the macaronesia environment and the endless range of flora and fauna.
This natural richness is the principal reason why part of its geographical territory has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve. This recent acclaim has been received with great enthusiasm by the Gran Canarios who are themselves very keen on improving the environmental conditions of the island.
Almost half the geographical space of the island is included in this reserve which, itself, covers six areas of rural towns with more than 18.000 inhabitants, most of whom are involved in traditional activities.
Owing to its central position with respect to the the Macronesia islands and the Canarian archipelago itself, Gran Canaria is possibly the island with the greatest diversity of environments. In addition to this, the island is characteristically round in shape with an approximate average diameter of 47,5 kilometres and a surface of 1560Km. It can aptly be described as a “massif” which rises above sea level to an altitude of 1.949 mts. from Pico de las Nieves in the centre of the island.
One of the island's main attractions is to be found in its geomorphological configuration. An immense, deep crater (Caldera de Tejeda) dominates the centre of the island, providing a drainage network of rainwater which in turn runs down the ravines towards the coastal areas.
The altitude of the island and the complexity of its shape make it possible for many different micro-climates to exist. This in turn permits the existence of various types of habitats. In this respect, the most outstanding is the southwest of Gran Canaria which, despite its many different historical processes that have taken place throughout the centuries, has maintained almost intact its original natural state. In effect it is in this area where the very best pine forests in the Canaries may be found. The Canarian pine is an endemic tree with peculiar characteristics making it unique in the world. Its trunk, which is cone shaped when it is young, twists in an irregular manner with age, due to its multiple ramifications. But one of the aspects which most single it out, compared with other pines, are its its long fine leaves which form bunches along the branches of the tree.
Human activities have integrated in such a way in the natural habitat of Gran Canaria, that it is difficult to differentiate between those elements introduced by man and the natural ones. The result of interaction between traditional activities and natural scenery is manifested in a mosaic of landscapes worthy of being carefully preserved for future generations.
Along the coastline of the island and up to an altitude of 300 metres, the atmosphere is extremely dry and arid and it is here that the enormous cactii dominate the vegetation. In contrast, the bottoms of the ravines and the vallies are the homs of the palm trees and other formations such as tarahales and sauzales.
At the same time, contrasts may be found in the coastal areas, with a number of underwater deltas, volcanic submarine caves, enormous cliff faces and interconnected sandbanks, making the coastline rich in bio-diversity.It is in these areas therefore that giant turtles and different types of cetaceans inhabit the waters. Among other species, there are also “mular” dolphins and a a large colony of grey “calderons”.
Now that it has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve, all this natural and geographic richness are living proof that Gran Canaria's vegetation is a true paradise which must be preserved for residents and visitors alike and its unique environmental conditions closley protected.
