Tenerife

Tenerife or Teneriffe (ancient Pintuaria), island, Spain, largest of the Canary Islands, forming part of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province. Located in the Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of Africa, north-west of Cape Bojador, the island extends about 97 km (60 mi) in length and ranges from 48 km (30 mi) to 16 km (10 mi) in width, with an area of 2,059 sq km (795 sq mi). Several small rivers originate in the mountains of the island. In the north-eastern part of the island is Pinar de la Esperanza, a forest of eucalyptus and pine. The volcanic mountain Pico de Teide (3,718 m/12,198 ft high) occupies the main portion of the island. The peak lies at the heart of Teide National Park, established in 1954 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

The island’s soil is fertile, and agricultural products include dates, coconut palms, fruit, grain, maize, tomatoes, cotton, sugar, and grapes. Tourism is important to the economy. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, capital of the province, is the largest city and principal seaport of Tenerife. The next largest town is La Laguna (in full, San Cristóbal de La Laguna), whose historic centre was designated a World Heritage Site in 1999. The population of the island is 701,034 (2001). The name Tenerife means “snowcapped mountain” in Guanche. In June 1936 Francisco Franco and other army officers met on Tenerife to plan the Nationalist rebellion that sparked the Spanish Civil War.