Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. The island is of volcanic origin.

The island was populated by the Guanches from 3000 BC, who called it Tamarán, but was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.

Gran Canaria's surface is 1560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.

It is divided into twenty-one municipalities:

The island has a population of 789,908 with 377,600 (year 2003) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the co-capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

Tourism

This island is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found.

Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. There is a large bird park, Palmitos Park, in the south of the island, as well as many beach resort communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustin, Playa del Inglés , and Maspalomas . The Dunes of Maspalomas, supplied by sands from the Sahara, are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Another tourist attraction is the Lighthouse at Maspalomas.

Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European gays with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the Yumbo Centrum shopping center. A gay beach is found near the Maspalomas Dunes.

Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of Arguineguin in the Municipality of Mogán. The market, which is held on Tuesdays, is the largest on the island.

Still further to the west along the southern shore, also in the Municipality of Mogán are the communities of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán , a pictoresque village referred to as "Little Venice" on account on its many canals.

The capital city of Las Palmas, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life and the beach Las Canteras is located in the heart of the city. Las Palmas is also known for its annual Carnaval.

The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000).

See also

• List of municipalities in Las Palmas

External links

• Info, maps and forum about Gran Canaria
• Cabildo de Gran Canaria
• Pictures of Gran Canaria
• Gran Canaria Tourist Portal
• All Gran Canaria web sites listed
• Gran Canaria Guide
• Gran Canaria Information web site
• PhotoGlobe - Gran Canaria offers high quality photos of Gran Canaria together with GPS coordinates