Pico de Teide

Pico de Teide, volcano situated on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. At 3,718 m (12,198 ft) it is the highest peak in the Canaries and on Spanish territory, and the third largest volcano in the world. The mountain is located in Teide National Park, formed in 1954 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and is classified as a shield volcano (see Volcanism: Shield Volcanoes). Access to the summit is strictly limited by national park authorities. There is an astronomical observatory at the top of the mountain. Pico de Teide’s latest eruption occurred in 1909.