Of the seven islands that make up the Canary Island chain Lanzarote is the most easterly. And is located just off the West coast of Africa – close to what was once known as the Spanish Sahara – around seventy miles away.
- Image by soseac via Flickr
Just like this near neighbour Lanzarote has a very dry and arid climate, characterised by very low rainfall – on average just 9mm a month. With temperatures maintaining a minimum of around 20c all year round. Two factors which help to make Lanzarote a popular year round holiday destination too.
As a result of this enviable climate Lanzarote is popular with tourists from all over Northern Europe. Scandinavians visit the island in large numbers – especially during the winter months. Whilst around one million British and Irish tourists arrived on flights to Lanzarote during the course of 2007.
Lanzarote was once thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis. Phoenician traders dubbed it the Purple Island – as a lichen called Orchilla was once grown here, which was used as the basis for a purple dyestuff. In the Middle Ages Lanzarote was referred to as one of the Fortunate Islands – thanks to the spring like year round climate.
Today Lanzarote is best known as the Island of Fire though. Thanks to the fact that around one quarter of the land here was submerged by a sea of molten lava, as Lanzarote was subjected to a terrifying six year long volcanic eruption. Which started in 1730. Driving many islanders to flee and seek new lives abroad.
These eruptions actually increased the size of the island by around one quarter. And obviously caused widespread devastation at the time – as some of the most fertile farming land on the island was submerged beneath a sea of molten lava. Forcing many Lanzaroteños to emigrate abroad. Today however the volcanoes that caused this devastation are Lanzarote´s most popular tourist attraction. With the Timanfaya Volcano Park attracting over one million visitors every year.
The bulk of visitors opt to stay in apartments or holiday villas in Lanzarote during their stay. As hotel accommodation only accounts for around 40% of the islands total tourist capacity. Many visitors also go on to purchase a property on the island from local estate agents. Which they are then able to enjoy as a holiday home whilst also renting it out to other tourists for the rest of the year. A potentially lucrative business given Lanzarote´s year round rental calendar.
For great deals on Lanzarote hotels and Lanzarote property for sale visit the Lanzarote tourist information website.
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