Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, rarely the Grand Canary (older name) is one of and is the second largest island in the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin.

Related Topics:
Canary Islands - Archipelago - Atlantic Ocean - Africa - Spain - Fuerteventura - Volcanic

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The island was populated by the Canarios from 3000 BC, who called it Tamarán, but was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.

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Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.

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It is divided into twenty-one municipalities:

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• Agaete
• Agüimes
• Artenara
• Arucas
• Firgas
• Gáldar
• Ingenio

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• Mogán
• Moya
• Las Palmas
• San Bartolomé de Tirajana
• San Nicolás de Tolentino
• Sta. Brígida
• Sta. Lucía de Tirajana

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• Santa María de Guía
• Tejeda
• Telde
• Teror
• Valleseco
• Valsequillo
• Vega de San Mateo

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The island has a population of 789,908 with 377,600 (year 2003) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also the capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

Related Topics:
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Province - Las Palmas - Autonomous community - Canary Islands

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