Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean off the shore of Africa and represent the most remote and autonomous community of Spain. It consists of seven main islands and each of them has its own identity. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are the nearest to the African mainland and resemble the continent to the greatest extent in geographical aspect. The other islands have a unique climate, often referred to as 'eternal spring', which allows for exuberant vegetation. A large majority of the indigenous species to the Canary Islands are endemic, which makes the group one of the most interesting biological research destinations worldwide. The archipelago is known above all as a high quality summer holiday destination with thousands of kilometres of exquisite white sandy beaches and an excellent tourist infrastructure. The high volcanic mountain ranges located on most of the islands draw more and more trekking and mountain biking fans. The areas that are not suitable for tourism are intensively used for agriculture and the archipelago is an important exporter of bananas and tobacco. The big cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife enchant visitors with plenty of heritage sites, imposing cathedrals and palaces, green and maintained gardens and lively streets full of visitors from around the globe.