Gran Canaria

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Miniature Continent

Gran Canaria, rarely Grand Canary (archaic), is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin, which is mostly made of fissure vents.

Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km²; and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.

This island is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found. The island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny. The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the western coast is rockier and mountainous.

Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, and Maspalomas where most tourists visit. The Dunes of Maspalomas are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life and the beach Las Canteras is located in the heart of the city.

More info

Gran Canaria in Wikipedia

Gran Canaria in Panoramio

Image related of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

Symbols of Gran Canaria

Flag

The flag of Gran Canaria is divided in two by a diagonal line from the lower left corner to the right upper corner. The left upper half is yellow and the right lower half is blue. In the centre the coat of arms of Gran Canaria.

It was created in 1888 as registry flag for the maritime province of Las Palmas.

According to all indications, the choice of forms and colours for all flags of maritime registry was completely arbitrary.

Approved:
Order of 20 Apr 1989 (BOC of 26 Apr).

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Gran Canaria is per pale and per fess: first, gules, a castle or, masoned sable, its windows and gate azure; second, silver, a lion gules, crowned, langued and armed gold; and third, a palm-tree on a rock, with a rampant greyhound on each side, facing each other, all proper. Bordure gules, with ten swords silver, placed two by two, crossed in saltire. Ensigned with a royal crown, closed.

It reproduces the arms granted by Queen Juana of Castile in 1506 to the Gran Canaria island council, without the changes made later that identify the current arms of the capital of the island. The two first quarters symbolize Gran Canaria’s ties with the Crown. The third quarter shows the most characteristic plant of Gran Canaria, together with dogs alluding to the alleged etymology of the island’s name, while the swords on the bordure mean the many battles that the Castilians had to fight to achieve its conquest.

Approved:
Order of 24 Nov 1990 (BOC of 7 Dec).