Canary Islands – 7 Islands in One Cruise
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Gran Canaria Island
Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Islands
From the geographical point of view, the small group of the seven islands Lanzarote, Feurteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro could belong to Africa, as there are only 100 kilometres separating the northern coast of Morocco from the black sand beaches of the lava island Lanzarote. The Canary Islands, lying at the same altitude as Kuwait and Florida, were formed through volcanic activity 20.6 millions of years ago. Because of the geographical situation close to the tropic, the climate in the region around the Canary Islands is subtropical and mild, similar to the Mediterranean. The reason for this mild climate is the constant streaming, which is a part of the warm gulf stream. Therefore, the Canary Islands are often referred to as the islands of everlasting spring. Too warm winds from the Sahara are normally kept away by the trade winds, except when Calima blows – an east wind that brings hot and dry air from the African desert to the coasts of the Canarian Islands. During the summer period, the sailing crew will be pleased by the great weather with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. Despite mild temperatures all over the year, planning a sailing cruise in winter you should remember about the frequent rains and take some weatherproof clothes with you. Thanks to the isolated situation of the islands, many plant and animal species could survive. The fertile volcanic ground is perfect for cloud forests, such as the impressive cloud forest on La Gomera – the greenest of the Canary Islands. During your sailing cruise you will be fascinated by the endless diversity of fauna. Incredible 28 whale and dolphin species were counted in this area. The underwater world is just as much amazing – skates, angelfishes, sword fishes, big tunas, breams, parrotfishes, groupers and many others. The archipelago includes 142 nature protection areas with the total area of 301304 hectares. The most known are the Timanfaya national park on Lanzarote with its famous lava fields and the Teide national park on Tenerife. The breathtaking nature landscapes of this region make the Canary Islands to a beloved area for sailing cruises. Because of the extension of the region of 400 kilometres from the east to the west, the sailing area is especially attractive for those who want to sail long distances.
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