Tens of thousands of migrants left West Africa in 2024 for Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago close to the African coast that has increasingly been used as a stepping stone to continental Europe

About Canary Island

Location

• An autonomous Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Situated about 100 km west of Morocco and 1,300 km southeast of Gibraltar.
• Politically and economically part of Europe, geographically part of continental Africa.
• Located in the Macaronesia region, southwest of Spain, near Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Geographical Features

• Largest Archipelago in Macaronesia: Includes seven major islands and several islets.
• Divided into Two Groups:
  • Western Islands: La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, and Ferro; characterized by mountain peaks rising from the deep seabed.
  • Eastern Islands: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and six islets forming the Chinijo Archipelago on the Canary Ridge plateau.

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• Volcanic Origin: Formed by volcanic eruptions; some volcanoes like Teide Peak (Tenerife, 3,718 m), are still active.
  • Four islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, El Hierro, La Palma) have had eruptions in modern times.
  • Beaches: Notable for black sand due to volcanic activities
• Protected Regions: Fuerteventura, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, preserves Canarian Egyptian vultures.
  • Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park: Includes La Graciosa and six islets; supports diverse flora and fauna.
  • Home to Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Climate: The Canary Islands experience a subtropical climate characterized by warm temperatures and mild seasonal variations.
• Canary Current: A cold ocean current flowing southwest along the northwest coast of Africa, is named after the Canary Islands.
  • This current significantly influences the region by contributing to the dry, rainless conditions along the coastal areas of the Sahara Desert.

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