Arucas is a municipality in the northern part of the island of Gran Canaria, province of Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Arucas borders Las Palmas to the west and is part of its urban area. Its population is 36,852 (2013), and the area is . To the north is the Montaña de Arucas which is thought to be the area where courageous Doramas the Guanche leader was killed in 1481 by Pedro de Vera in the Battle of Arucas. Arucas is known for the production of rum.
History
Arucas was rebuilt in 1480 after being completely destroyed in 1478. Since the 15th century, the main crop of the Arucas area was sugar cane. Rum was produced here long before sugar plantations were cultivated in Cuba. One of the main features of modern-day Arucas is its rum factory. Arucas boomed with the demand for cochineal (a beetle feeding off cactus pear, crushed to produce red dye) in the second half of the 19th century.
thumb|center|500px|Arucas 2016
thumb|center|800px|Arucas 2016
Gallery
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File:Arucas 2016 05.jpg|The Church of San Juan Bautista
File:Arucas vista.jpg|City of Arucas
File:BotanischerGartenDerHerzoginVonArucas.jpg|Jardín de la Marquesa de Arucas, the Botanical Garden in Arucas.
File:BotanicGardensinArucas.JPG|Jardín de la Marquesa de Arucas, the Botanical Garden features more than 500 plant species.
File:Church of San Juan Bautista, Arucas, May 2018.jpg|Church of San Juan Bautista as seen from Calle Párroco Morales.
</gallery>
See also
- List of municipalities in Las Palmas
References
External links
- English version of Arucas tourism site