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Official Name: Comunidad
Autónoma de Canarias
(Autonomous Community of the
Canary Island)
Area: Europe
Size: 7,447 km²
Coastline: 1,100km
Independence: Statute of
Autonomy August 16, 1982
Form
of Govt.: Parliament and Administration
Head
of Govt.: President
Capital: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Largest City: Santa Cruz
de Tenerife
Demographics (2005): 1,995,833. 268/km²
GDP
per Capita (2005): $8,881
Languages: Spanish
Geography: The nearest
island (Fuerteventura) is 108 km from the northwest African coast. The
islands form the Macaronesia ecoregion with the Azores, Cape Verde,
Madeira, and the Savage Isles. The Teide volcano on Tenerife is the
highest mountain in Spain, and the third largest volcano on Earth.
According to the position of the islands with respect to the trade
winds, the climate can be mild and wet or very dry. Several native
species are laurisilva forests. Hacha Grande, a mountain in the south of
Lanzarote, viewed from the road to the Playa de Papagayo. Four of
Spain's thirteen national parks are located in the Canary Islands, more
than any other autonomous community.
Climate: Due to the islands geographical location,
some 4º from the tropic of cancer and very close to the African coast,
the islands' climate is subtropical. The surprising landscape, with high
mountains covered by snow very close to the beaches, is an additional
attraction. Water temperature varies from 22 degrees in summer to 19
degrees in winter. There is eternal springtime. Temperatures between the
seasons vary only some 6 degrees, the monthly average temperatures are
from 18 to 24 degrees. Ideal bathing conditions through all the year.
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