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.