Las Cañadas del Teide National Park

    Located on the island of Tenerife, it was declared a National Park in 1954. With an extension of 18,990 hectares, it is the largest of the Canary Islands’ National Parks. From its aborigine origins and right through to the decade of the fifties, this area was basically used for island pastureland, as it was the main area for grazing during the summer season.

    It is one of Spain’s most visited parks, because in addition to the proximity of the most important tourist areas on the island, its ease of access is to be taken into account, and the existence of the cableway that allows access to the summit of the Teide.

   This park offers us one of the most spectacular examples of volcanoes in the world. The volcanic relief culminates in the impressive massif of the “Teide-Pico Viejo” (3718 m above sea level).

Geomorphology

    The park is situated in a huge depression of the terrain, in the shape of a cauldron. Cliffs abound all over, except in the northeast, and at the base of these cliffs the remains of erosion can be found, which have accumulated forming plains that in the Canary Islands are called “Cañadas”.

    This park offers us one of the most spectacular examples of volcanoes in the world. Numerous volcanoes conform the Park’s current physiognomy, holding the starring role because of the contrast between them. Volcanoes in rounded shapes with yellowish tones can be seen, with these hues being the result of the accumulation of pumice stone, along with ash or “picón” cones in darkish tones, ranging from reddish hues right through to intense black.

    The lava resulting from the different eruptions has filled-out extensive surfaces, giving rise to a landscape that has a chaotic and desolate aspect. This volcanic relief culminates in the impressive “Teide-Pico Viejo” Massif (3718 m above sea level), which is seated over the ancient and gigantic depression configured by two semi-cauldrons, separated from each other by the “Roques de García”.

Flora

    The extreme conditions represented by the altitude, important insolation, thermal range and scarce humidity, condition the presence of a rich and singular flora that has adapted to the harshness of the environment, overflowing in abundant endemic flora.

    Trees are scarce, limited to a few examples of Canary Cedars in the interior and Canary Pines along the park’s periphery.

   In the background of the image the “Teide” appears, with the same being the highest point on the archipelago of the Canary Islands and in Spain, and in the forefront a coniferous forest can be seen, this being a pine tree formation located in the foothills of the summit and park.  

   The most abundant plants that can be found are the Teide Dyers’ Greenwood and the Laburnum. The flora richness is more than considerable, with the Teide Violet standing out, as well as the Teide Daisy, Scrubland Grass, Flowering Moss and the Teide Wallflower.


Fauna

    The Park’s invertebrate fauna stands out by the abundance of insects that are exclusive to high mountain areas.

    Amongst the vertebrates we can highlight the presence of the Charred Lizard, Bats and numerous birds, amongst which Crows, Great Grey Shrikes, Teide Blue Hawfinches, Meadow Pipits, Mosquito Birds, and Blue Tits and Canaries abound.

    In that pertaining to predator species, there is an abundance of Kestrels, Sparrow  Hawks and Small Owls.