Tenerife - WikiHQ

Tenerife ( ; ; formerly spelled Teneriffe) is the largest and most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With a land area of and a population of 972,018 inhabitants , it is the most-populous island in Spain

More than seven million tourists (7,384,707 in 2024) visit Tenerife each year, making it by far the most visited island in the archipelago. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain and the world, hosting one of the world's largest carnivals, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The capital of the island, , is also the seat of the island council (). The city and are the co-capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. The two cities are both home to governmental institutions, such as the offices of the presidency and the ministries. After the 1833 territorial division of Spain, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands. In 1927, the Crown established the current co-capital arrangement. Santa Cruz contains the modern , the architectural symbol of the Canary Islands.

The island is home to the University of La Laguna. Founded in 1792 in , it is the oldest university in the Canaries. The city of La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second-most populous city on the island, and the third-most populous in the archipelago. It was the capital of the Canary Islands before Santa Cruz replaced it in 1833. Tenerife is served by two airports: Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport.

Teide National Park, located in the centre of the island, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes Mount Teide, which has the highest elevation in Spain, and the highest elevation among all the islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the third-largest volcano in the world when measured from its base. Another geographical feature of the island, the (massif), has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015. Tenerife also has the largest number of endemic species in Europe.

thumb|upright|Satellite view (April 2023)

The island's indigenous people, the Guanche Berbers, referred to the island as or in their language (variant spellings are found in the literature). Berber king Juba II and the ancient Romans called the island of Tenerife , from the Latin word (nsg.; gsg. , npl. ), meaning "snow", after the snow-covered peak of the Mount Teide volcano. Later maps dating to the 14th and 15th centuries, drawn by mapmakers such as Bontier and Le Verrier, called the island , ("Hell Island"), due to Mount Teide's volcanic eruptions and other volcanic activity.

Although the name given to the island by the (the indigenous peoples of La Palma) was derived from the words ("mountain") and ("white"), after the Spanish colonized the island, the name was modified by Spanish phonology: the letter "r" was added to link the two words, producing the single word Tenerife.

Throughout history, though, other explanations for the origin of the island's name have been proposed. For example, 17th-century historians and , among others, suggested that the indigenous peoples might have named the island for the famous Guanche king, Tinerfe, nicknamed "the Great", who ruled Tenerife before the conquest of the Canary Islands by Castile.

Demonym

The formal demonym used to refer to the people of Tenerife is ; also used colloquially is the term . In modern society, the latter term is generally applied only to inhabitants of the capital, Santa Cruz. The term was once a derogatory term used by the people of La Laguna when it was the capital, to refer to the poorer inhabitants and fishermen of Santa Cruz. The fishermen typically caught mackerel and other residents ate potatoes, assumed to be of low quality by the elite of La Laguna. but the Cave of the Guanches in the northern municipality of Icod de los Vinos has provided the oldest chronologies of the Canary Islands, with dates around the sixth century BC.

In terms of technology, the Guanches can be placed among the peoples of the Stone Age, although scholars often reject this classification because of its ambiguity. Guanche culture was more culturally advanced, possibly due to Berber cultural features imported from North Africa, but less technologically advanced because of the scarcity of raw materials, especially minerals that would have enabled metal extraction and working. The main activity was gathering food from nature, though fishing and shellfish collection were supplemented with some agricultural practices.

As for religion and cosmology, the Guanches were polytheistic, with further widespread belief in an astral cult. They also had an animistic religiosity that sacralized certain places, mainly rocks and mountains. Although the Guanches worshiped many gods and ancestral spirits, among the most important were Achamán (the god of the sky and supreme creator), Chaxiraxi (the mother goddess, identified later with the Virgin of Candelaria), Magec (the god of the sun), and Guayota (the demon who is the main cause of evil). Especially significant was the cult of the dead, which practiced the mummification of corpses. In addition, small anthropomorphic and zoomorphic stone and clay figurines, typically associated with rituals, have been found on the island. Scholars believe they were used as idols, the most prominent of which is the so-called Idol of Guatimac, which is thought to represent a genius or protective spirit.

Territorial organisation before the conquest (the Guanches)

The title of mencey was given to the monarch or king of the Guanches of Tenerife, who governed a menceyato or kingdom. This role was later referred to as a "captainship" by the conquerors. Tinerfe "the Great", son of the mencey Sunta, governed the island from Adeje in the south. Upon his death, though, his nine children rebelled and argued bitterly about how to divide the island.

Two independent achimenceyatos were created on the island, and the island was divided into nine menceyatos. The menceyes within them formed what was similar to municipalities today. The menceyatos and their menceyes (ordered by the names of descendants of Tinerfe who ruled them) were the following:

thumb|Territorial map of Tenerife before the conquest

Taoro. Menceyes: Bentinerfe, Inmobach, Bencomo and Bentor. Today it includes Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, La Matanza de Acentejo, Los Realejos and Santa Úrsula.
Güímar. Menceyes: Acaymo, Añaterve and Guetón. Today this territory is made up of El Rosario, Candelaria, Arafo and Güímar
Abona. Menceyes: Atguaxoña and Adxoña (Adjona). Today it includes Fasnia, Arico, Granadilla de Abona, San Miguel de Abona and Arona.
Anaga. Menceyes: Beneharo and Beneharo II. Today, this territory spans the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
Tegueste. Menceyes: Tegueste, Tegueste II and Teguaco. Today, this territory is made up of Tegueste, part of the coastal zone of La Laguna.
Tacoronte: Menceyes: Rumén and Acaymo. Today this territory is made up of Tacoronte and El Sauzal
Icode. Menceyes: Chincanayro and Pelicar. Today this territory is made up of San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha, Garachico, and Icod de los Vinos.
Daute. Menceyes: Cocanaymo and Romen. Today this territory is occupied by El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide.
Adeje. Menceyes. Atbitocazpe, Pelinor and Ichasagua. It included what today are the municipalities of Guía de Isora, Adeje and Vilaflor

The achimenceyato of Punta del Hidalgo was governed by Aguahuco, a "poor noble" who was an illegitimate son of Tinerfe and Zebenzui.

Castilian conquest

thumb|left|[[Alonso Fernandez de Lugo presenting the native kings of Tenerife to Ferdinand and Isabella]]

Tenerife was the last island of the Canaries to be conquered and the one that took the longest time to submit to the Castilian troops. Although the traditional dates for the conquest of Tenerife are set between 1494 (the landing of Alonso Fernández de Lugo) and 1496 (the complete conquest of the island), attempts to annex Tenerife to the Crown of Castile date back at least to 1464.

In 1464, Diego Garcia de Herrera, Lord of the Canary Islands, took symbolic possession of the island in the Barranco del Bufadero (Ravine of the Bufadero), signing a peace treaty with the Guanche chiefs (menceyes) which allowed the mencey Anaga to build a fortified tower on Guanche land, where the Guanches and the Spanish held periodic treaty talks until the Guanches demolished it around 1472.

In 1492, the governor of Gran Canaria, Francisco Maldonado, organized a raid that ended in disaster for the Spaniards when Anaga's warriors defeated them. In December 1493, the Catholic monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, granted Alonso Fernández de Lugo the right to conquer Tenerife. Coming from Gran Canaria in April 1494, the conqueror landed on the coast of present-day Santa Cruz de Tenerife in May, and disembarked with about 2,000 men on foot and 200 on horseback. After taking the fort, the army prepared to move inland, later capturing the native kings of Tenerife and presenting them to Isabella and Ferdinand.

The menceyes of Tenerife had differing responses to the conquest. They divided into the side of peace () and the side of war (). The first included the menceyatos of Anaga, Güímar, Abona, and Adeje. The second group consisted of the people of Tegueste, Tacoronte, Taoro, Icoden, and Daute. Those opposed to the conquest fought the invaders tenaciously, resisting their rule for two years. Castilian forces under the Adelantado ("military governor") de Lugo suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Guanches in the First Battle of Acentejo on 31 May 1494. Still, they defeated them at the Second Battle of Acentejo on 25 December 1494. The Guanches were eventually overcome by superior technology and the invaders' arms and surrendered to the Crown of Castile in 1496.

Spanish rule

thumb|Square in the village of [[Los Silos, Tenerife, by Alfred Diston, 1827]]

Many of the natives died from new infectious diseases, such as influenza and probably smallpox, to which they lacked resistance or had not yet acquired immunity. The new colonists intermarried with the local native population. For a century after the conquest, many new colonists settled on the island, including immigrants from the diverse territories of the growing Spanish Empire, such as Flanders, Italy, and Germany.

As the population grew, it cleared Tenerife's pine forests for fuel and to create agricultural fields, growing crops for both local consumption and export. Sugar cane was introduced in the 1520s as a commodity crop on major plantations; it was labor-intensive throughout cultivation and processing. In the following centuries, planters cultivated wine grapes, cochineal for dye production, and plantains for consumption and export.

Trade with the Americas

thumb|[[Amaro Pargo (1678–1741), corsair and merchant from Tenerife who participated in the Spanish treasure fleet (the Spanish-American trade route)]]

In the commerce of the Canary Islands with the Americas in the 18th century, Tenerife was the hegemonic island, since it accounted for over 50% of the number of ships and 60% of the tonnage. In the islands of La Palma and Gran Canaria, the percentage was around 19% for the first and 7% for the second. The volume of traffic between the Indies and the Canary Islands was unknown, but was very important and concentrated almost exclusively in Tenerife.

Emigration to the Americas

Tenerife, like the other islands, has maintained a close relationship with Latin America, as both were part of the Spanish Empire. From the start of the colonization of the New World, many Spanish expeditions stopped at the island for supplies on their way to the Americas. They also recruited many tinerfeños for their crews, who played an integral role in the conquest expeditions. Others joined ships in search of better prospects. It is also important to note the exchange of plant and animal species that occurred during those voyages.

thumb|upright|Woman of La Victoria, Tenerife, by Alfred Diston, 1828

After a century and a half of relative growth in the viticulture sector, numerous families emigrated, especially to Venezuela and Cuba. The Crown wanted to encourage the population of underdeveloped zones in the Americas to pre-empt the occupation by foreign forces, as had happened with the English in Jamaica and the French in the Guianas and western Hispaniola (which the French renamed as Saint-Domingue). Canary Islanders, including many tinerfeños, left for the New World.

The success of cultivating new crops from the Americas, such as cocoa in Venezuela and tobacco in Cuba, contributed to the population exodus from towns such as Buenavista del Norte, Vilaflor, and El Sauzal in the late 17th century. The village of San Carlos de Tenerife was founded in 1684 by Canary Islanders on Santo Domingo. The people from Tenerife were recruited for settlement to build up the town to prevent encroachment by French colonists established on the western side of Hispaniola. Between 1720 and 1730, the Crown moved 176 families, including many tinerfeños, to the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. In 1726, about 25 island families migrated to the Americas to collaborate on the foundation of Montevideo. Four years later, in 1730, another group left that founded San Antonio the following year in what became Texas. Between 1777 and 1783, more islanders emigrated from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to settle in what became St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, during the period when Spain ruled this former French territory west of the Mississippi River. Some groups went to Western or Spanish Florida.

In June 1799, the Prussian-born naturalist Alexander von Humboldt spent five full days on Tenerife on the first leg of his soon world-famous American journey (1799–1804) and climbed the Pico del Teide.

Emigration to the Americas (mainly Cuba and Venezuela) continued during the 19th and early 20th century, due to the lack of economic opportunity and the relative isolation of the Canary Islands. Since the late 20th century, island protectionist economic laws and a strong development in the tourism industry have strengthened the economy and attracted new migrants. Tenerife has welcomed numerous new residents, including the "return" of many descendants of islanders who had departed five centuries earlier. On 25 July 1797, Admiral Horatio Nelson launched an attack at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, now the capital of the island. After a ferocious fight, which resulted in many casualties, General Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana organized a defense to repel the invaders. Whilst leading a landing party, Nelson was seriously wounded in his right arm by grapeshot or a musket ball, necessitating amputation of most of the arm. Legend tells that the Spanish cannon Tiger () wounded him as he was trying to disembark on the Paso Alto coast.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife was, especially during the first half of the 18th century, the most important corsair centre in the Macaronesian region. The recent discovery of abundant documentary evidence of significant corsair activity, carried out primarily by natives, residents, and islanders, confirms this fact. At the same time, the numerous pirate ships that frequented the Canary Islands' waters used landing places along the coast. Such was the case of Valle de Salazar or San Andrés, which had acquired a reputation as a "pirate port" until the construction of its castle or defensive tower.

Modern history

From 1833 to 1927, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands. In 1927, the government ordered that the capital be shared with Las Palmas, as it remains at present. Independent shipping business, such as the Yeoward Brothers Shipping Line, helped boost the tourist industry during this time, adding to ships that carried passengers. The naturalist Alexander von Humboldt ascended the peak of Mount Teide and remarked on the beauty of the island.

Before his rise to power, Francisco Franco was posted to Tenerife in March 1936 by a Republican government wary of his influence and political leanings. However, Franco received information and, in Gran Canaria, agreed to collaborate in the military coup that would result in the Spanish Civil War; the Canaries fell to the Nationalists in July 1936. In the 1950s, the misery of the post-war years caused thousands of the island's inhabitants to emigrate to Cuba and other parts of Latin America.

Tenerife was the site of the deadliest accident ever in commercial aviation. The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on 27 March 1977 when two Boeing 747s, KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in heavy fog conditions, causing the deaths of 583 passengers and crew. A few years later, Dan Air Flight 1008 crashed into a mountain while on approach to Tenerife North, killing 146 people. The plane was traveling too close to an Iberia Air turboprop and was asked to enter a holding pattern.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the so-called Tenerife flood of 2002 took place on 31 March of that year. It was a phenomenon of cold drop characterized by the repeated fall of torrential rains accompanied by thunder and lightning, affecting the Santa Cruz de Tenerife metropolitan area and extending in the NE direction towards the San Andrés area. The rains caused 8 deaths, 12 people missing, and dozens of injuries. In addition to the human losses, the flood caused considerable material damage, leaving 70,000 people without light, as well as the total or partial destruction of at least 400 homes. The losses were calculated at 90 million euros.

In November 2005, Tenerife was the Canary Island most affected by Tropical Storm Delta. Winds of 140 km/h were recorded on the coast and almost 250 km/h on the Teide, Tenerife's summit.

Geography

thumb|Palm tree canyon in inland Tenerife

Panorama of the La Orotava Valley with Teide in the background|thumb

[[Teide and Roque Cinchado|thumb]]

The oldest mountain ranges in Tenerife rose from the Atlantic Ocean through volcanic eruptions, which gave birth to the island around 12 million years ago. The island as it is today was formed three million years ago by the fusion of three islands made up of the mountain ranges of Anaga, Teno and Valle de San Lorenzo,

The main climates are the hot semi-arid/arid climate (Köppen: BSh and BWh) and the subtropical Mediterranean Climate (Köppen: Csb and Csa) inland or at higher altitudes. The low altitude/coastal areas of the island have average temperatures of in the winter months and in the summer months. There is a high annual total of sunshine days and low precipitation in the coastal areas. The inland/high altitude areas, such as La Laguna, are wetter, cloudier, and cooler, with an average of in the winter and in the summer. The moderate climate of Tenerife is controlled to a great extent by the trade winds, whose humidity is condensed principally over the north and northeast of the island, creating cloud banks that range between in height. The cold sea currents around the Canary Islands also cool the coasts and beaches, while the islands' topography, with its many valleys, contributes to climatic differences. The moderating effect of the marine air makes extreme heat a rare occurrence and frost an impossibility at sea level. The lowest recorded temperature in central Santa Cruz is , the coldest month on record still had a relatively mild average temperature of . Summer temperatures are highest in August, with an average high of in Santa Cruz, similar to those of places as far north as Barcelona and Mallorca, because of the greater maritime influence. At a higher elevation in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the climate transitions to a Mediterranean climate with higher precipitation and lower year-round temperatures. The climate of Santa Cruz is very typical of the Canaries, albeit only slightly warmer than the climate of Las Palmas.

Major climatic contrasts on the island are evident, especially during the winter months when it is possible to enjoy the warm sunshine on the coast and experience snow within above sea level on Teide. There are also major contrasts at low altitude, where the climate ranges from arid (Köppen BWh) on the southeastern side represented by Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Mediterranean (Csa/Csb) on the northwestern side in Buenavista del Norte and La Orotava.

The northern and southern parts of Tenerife have different climatic characteristics due to the rain shadow effect. The windward northwestern side of the island is wetter, receiving 73 percent of all precipitation, with higher relative humidity and lower isolation. The greatest rainfall measurements are registered on the windward side between , almost exclusively in the La Orotava mountain range.

The centre of the island is characterized by forests because of the much higher precipitation, mostly Canary Island pine forests in the Teide National Park at altitudes from . Subtropical cloud forests characterised by laurisilva are commonly found in the Anaga Rural Park and Monte de Agua in the Teno Rural Park, with altitudes from and annual averages from and in the latter.

Global climate change has had a major impact on the island, with diminishing rainfall and hot, dry winds affecting vegetation and increasing susceptibility to forest fires. On 15 August 2023, a forest fire determined to be caused by arson necessitated the evacuation of 12,000 residents within a week.

Water

The volcanic ground of Tenerife, which is of a porous and permeable character, is generally the reason why the soil can maximise the absorption of water on an island of low rainfall, with condensation in forested areas and frost deposition on the summit of the island also contributing to the cause.

Given the irregularity of precipitation and geological conditions on the island, dam construction has been avoided, so most of the water (90 percent) comes from wells and from water galleries (horizontal tunnels bored into the volcano) of which there are thousands on the island, important systems that serve to extract its hydrological resources. These tunnels are very hazardous, with pockets of volcanic gas or carbon dioxide, causing rapid death.

Pollution and air quality

The Canary Islands have low levels of air pollution thanks to the lack of factories and industry, and to the trade winds, which naturally carry away contaminated air from the islands. According to official data from Spain's Health and Industry Ministry, Tenerife is one of the cleanest places in the country, with an air pollution index below the national average. Despite this, there are still agents which affect pollution levels in the island, the main polluting agents being the refinery at Santa Cruz, the thermal power plants at Las Caletillas and Granadilla, and road traffic, increased by the high level of tourism in the island. In addition to the island of Tenerife, as on La Palma, light pollution must also be controlled to help the astrophysical observatories located on the island's summits.

Water is generally of a very high quality, and the Ministry of Health and Consumption has catalogued all the beaches of the island of Tenerife as waters suitable for bathing.

Geology

thumb|upright=1.25|Map of Tenerife

Tenerife is a rugged volcanic island, sculpted by successive eruptions throughout its history. There are four historically recorded volcanic eruptions, none of which have resulted in casualties. The first occurred in 1704, when the Arafo, Fasnia, and Siete Fuentes volcanoes erupted simultaneously. Two years later, in 1706, the greatest eruption occurred at Trevejo. This volcano produced great quantities of lava, which buried the city and port of Garachico. The last eruption of the 18th century happened in 1798 at Cañadas de Teide, in Chahorra. The most recent eruption-in 1909-formed the Chinyero cinder cone in the municipality of Santiago del Teide.

The island is located between 28° and 29° N and the 16° and 17° W meridian. It is situated north of the Tropic of Cancer, occupying a central position between the other Canary Islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and La Palma. The island is about from the African coast, and approximately from the Iberian Peninsula. Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands archipelago, with a surface area of and has the longest coastline, amounting to .

In addition, the highest point, Mount Teide, with an elevation of above sea level is the highest point in all of Spain, is also the third largest volcano in the world from its base in the bottom of the sea. For this reason, Tenerife is the 10th-highest island worldwide. It comprises about 200 small barren islets or large rocks, including Roques de Anaga, Roque de Garachico, and Fasnia, adding a further to the total area.

Underwater fissural eruptions produced pillow lava, which are produced by the rapid cooling of the magma when it comes in contact with water, obtaining their peculiar shape. This pillow lava accumulated, constructing the base of the island underneath the sea. As this accumulation approached the water's surface, gases erupted from the magma due to the reduced surrounding pressure. The volcanic eruptions became more violent and had a more explosive character, and resulted in the formation of peculiar geological fragments.

A second volcanic cycle called the Post-Miocene Formations or Latest Series II, III, IV began three million years ago. This was a much more intense volcanic cycle that united the Macizo de Teno, Macizo de Anaga, and Macizo de Adeje into a single island. This new structure, called the Pre-Cañadas Structure (Edificio pre-Cañadas), would serve as the foundation for what is known as the Cañadas Structure I. The Cañadas Structure I experienced various collapses and emitted explosive material that produced the area known as Bandas del sur (in the present-day south-southeast of Tenerife).

Subsequently, upon the ruins of Cañadas Structure I emerged Cañadas Structure II, which was above sea level and emerged with intense explosive activity. About one million years ago, the Dorsal Range (Cordillera Dorsal) emerged by means of fissural volcanic activity occurring amidst the remains of the older Ancient Basaltic Series (Series I). This Dorsal Range emerged as the highest and the longest volcanic structure in the Canary Islands; it was high and long. in the centre of the island, over the Las Cañadas caldera. The original settlers considered Teide a god and Teide was a place of worship.

In 1954, the entire area around it was designated a national park, with further expansion later. In addition, in June 2007 it was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. To the west lies the volcano Pico Viejo (Old Peak). On one side of it is the volcano Chahorra o Narices del Teide, whose last eruption occurred near Mount Teide in 1798.

Teide is one of the 16 Decade Volcanoes identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as worthy of particular study due to its history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.

Tallest mountains on Tenerife:

{| class="wikitable"

!Peak

!Elevation (meters)

!Elevation (feet)

|Mount Teide

|3,715

|12,198

|Pico Viejo

|3,135

|10,285

|Montaña Blanca

|2,748

|9,016

|Guajara

|2,718

|8,917

Massifs

thumb|left|The uneven contours of the Anaga massif

The Anaga massif (Macizo de Anaga), at the northeastern end of the island, has an irregular and rugged topographical profile where, despite its generally modest elevations, the Cruz de Taborno reaches a height of . Due to the age of its material (5.7 million years), its deep erosive processes, and the dense network of dikes piercing the massif, its surface exposes numerous outcroppings of both phonolitic and trachytic origin. A large number of steep-walled gorges are present, penetrating deeply into the terrain. Vertical cuts dominate the Anagan coast, with infrequent beaches of rocks or black sand between them; the few that exist generally coincide with the mouths of gorges. There are many black sand pebble beaches on the northern coast, while on the south and south-west coast of the island, the beaches have typically much finer and clearer sand with lighter tones. The fauna of Tenerife includes some 400 species of fish, 56 birds, five reptiles, two amphibians, 13 land mammals, thousands of invertebrates, and several species of sea turtles and cetaceans.

The vegetation of Tenerife can be divided into six major zones that are directly related to altitude and the direction in which they face.

thumb|Forested areas populated by [[Pinus in ]]

thumb|[[Gallotia galloti, a wall lizard species endemic to Tenerife]]

Lower xerophytic zone: . Xerophytic shrubs that are well adapted to long dry spells, intense sunshine, and strong winds. Many endemic species: spurges, cactus spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), wax plants (Ceropegia spp.), etc.
Thermophile forest: . Transition zone with moderate temperatures and rainfall, but the area has been deteriorated by human activity. Many endemic species: juniper (Juniperus cedrus), dragon trees (Dracaena draco), palm trees (Phoenix canariensis), etc.
Laurel forest: . Dense forest of large trees, descendants of tertiary age flora, situated in a zone of frequent rainfall and mists. A wide variety of species with abundant undergrowth of bushes, herbaceous plants, and ferns. Laurels, holly (Ilex canariensis), ebony (Persea indica), mahogany (Apollonias barbujana), etc.
Wax myrtle: . A dryer vegetation, poorer in species. It replaces the degraded laurel forest. Of great forestry importance. Wax myrtles (Myrica faya), tree heath (Erica arborea), holly, etc.
Pine forest: . Open pine forest, with thin and unvaried undergrowth. Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis), broom (Genista canariensis), rock rose (Cistus spp.), etc.
High mountain: over . Dry climate, intense solar radiation, and extreme temperatures. Flora is well adapted to the conditions.
The slender-billed greenfinch (Chloris aurelioi), an extinct greenfinch from the Holocene.
The long-legged bunting (Emberiza alcoveri), a flightless bunting with long legs and short wings known from Pleistocene to Holocene cave deposits, and one of the few flightless passerines known to science, all of which are now extinct.
The giant lizard (Gallotia goliath) inhabited Tenerife from the Holocene until the fifteenth century AD. It was a specimen measuring 120 to 125 centimeters (47.2 to 49.2 inches) in length.
The giant tortoise (Geochelone burchardi): A large tortoise, similar to those currently found in some oceanic islands like the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Remains date to the Miocene; this tortoise may have inhabited the island until the Upper Pleistocene, apparently becoming extinct due to volcanic events long before the arrival of humans. Its shell measured approximately .

Protected natural areas

thumb|upright=1.25|Map showing the classification of protected areas in Tenerife

Nearly half of the island territory (48.6 percent), is under protection from the Red Canaria de Espacios Naturales Protegidos (Canary Islands Network for Protected Natural Areas). Of the 146 protected sites under control of the network in the Canary Islands archipelago, a total of 43 are located in Tenerife, the most protected island in the group. The network has criteria that place areas under its observation under eight different categories of protection, all of which are represented in Tenerife. Aside from Parque Nacional del Teide, it includes the Parque Natural de Canarias (Crown Forest), two rural parks (Anaga and Teno), four integral natural reserves, six special natural reserves, a total of fourteen natural monuments, nine protected landscapes, and up to six sites of scientific interest. Also located on the island Macizo de Anaga since 2015 is the Biosphere Reserve, This marine protected area off the coast of Tenerife is known for its ecological significance and biodiversity, including resident populations of cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales. It is also known as the Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area and became the first European designated Whale Heritage Area in January 2021.

Administration

Law and order

thumb|upright|Building of the Presidency of the Canaries Autonomous Government in Santa Cruz

Tenerife island's government resides with the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife located at the Plaza de España at the island's capital city (Palacio Insular de Tenerife). The political Canary organization does not have a provincial government body; instead, each island has its own government at its own Cabildo. Since its creation in March 1913, it has had a series of capabilities and duties, stated in the Canary Autonomy Statutes () and regulated by Law 14/1990, of 26 July 1990, of the Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas de Canarias.

The Cabildo comprises the following administrative offices: the Presidency, the Legislative Body, the Government Council, the Informative Commissions, and the Spokesman's Office.

Government

Tenerife is an autonomous territory of Spain. The island has a tiered government system and special status within the European Union, with lower tax rates than other regions. Santa Cruz is the seat of half of the regional government departments and parliament, and it is there that the Canarian people elect the governor. Afterward, they are appointed by Madrid. 15 members of parliament work together to pass legislation, organize budgets, and improve the economy.

Municipalities

The island, itself part of a Spanish province named Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is divided administratively into 31 municipalities. It is the island with the most municipalities in the Canary archipelago.

Only three municipalities are landlocked: Tegueste, El Tanque and Vilaflor. Vilaflor is the municipality with the highest altitude in the Canaries (its capital is high).

The largest municipality with an area of is La Orotava, which covers much of the Teide National Park. The smallest town on the island and of the archipelago is Puerto de la Cruz, with an area of .

! 2001

! 2011

! 2021

|Adeje

| align="right" |105.95

| align="right" |20,255

| align="right" |42,886

| align="right" |48,822

| align="right" |50,523

|Arafo

| align="right" |33.92

| align="right" |4,995

| align="right" |5,509

| align="right" |5,593

| align="right" |5,760

|Arico

| align="right" |178.76

| align="right" |5,824

| align="right" |7,688

| align="right" |8,343

| align="right" |9,049

|Arona

| align="right" |81.79

| align="right" |40,826

| align="right" |75,484

| align="right" |83,097

| align="right" |86,497

|Buenavista del Norte

| align="right" |67.42

| align="right" |4,972

| align="right" |4,827

| align="right" |4,765

| align="right" |4,720

|Candelaria

| align="right" |49.18

| align="right" |14,247

| align="right" |25,928

| align="right" |28,614

| align="right" |28,876

|Fasnia

| align="right" |45.11

| align="right" |2,407

| align="right" |2,961

| align="right" |2,821

| align="right" |2,991

|Garachico

| align="right" |29.28

| align="right" |5,307

| align="right" |5,035

| align="right" |4,921

| align="right" |4,975

|Granadilla de Abona

| align="right" |162.40

| align="right" |21,135

| align="right" |41,209

| align="right" |52,401

| align="right" |55,505

|La Guancha

| align="right" |23.77

| align="right" |5,193

| align="right" |5,422

| align="right" |5,528

| align="right" |5,562

|Guía de Isora

| align="right" |143.40

| align="right" |14,982

| align="right" |19,734

| align="right" |21,871

| align="right" |22,478

|Güímar

| align="right" |102.90

| align="right" |15,271

| align="right" |18,244

| align="right" |21,001

| align="right" |21,558

|Icod de los Vinos

| align="right" |95.90

| align="right" |21,748

| align="right" |23,314

| align="right" |23,492

| align="right" |24,117

|La Matanza de Acentejo

| align="right" |14.11

| align="right" |7,053

| align="right" |8,677

| align="right" |9,134

| align="right" |9,114

|La Orotava

| align="right" |207.31

| align="right" |37,738

| align="right" |41,552

| align="right" |42,546

| align="right" |42,667

|Puerto de la Cruz

| align="right" |8.73

| align="right" |26,441

| align="right" |31,349

| align="right" |30,326

| align="right" |31,396

|Los Realejos

| align="right" |57.08

| align="right" |33,438

| align="right" |37,517

| align="right" |37,256

| align="right" |37,543

|El Rosario

| align="right" |39.43

| align="right" |13,462

| align="right" |17,247

| align="right" |17,559

| align="right" |17,905

|San Cristóbal de La Laguna

| align="right" |102.60

| align="right" |128,822

| align="right" |152,025

| align="right" |158,117

| align="right" |159,576

|San Juan de la Rambla

| align="right" |20.67

| align="right" |4,782

| align="right" |5,042

| align="right" |4,892

| align="right" |4,939

|San Miguel de Abona

| align="right" |42.04

| align="right" |8,398

| align="right" |16,465

| align="right" |22,057

| align="right" |23,007

|Santa Cruz de Tenerife

| align="right" |150.56

| align="right" |188,477

| align="right" |204,476

| align="right" |208,103

| align="right" |208,906

|Santa Úrsula

| align="right" |22.59

| align="right" |10,803

| align="right" |14,079

| align="right" |15,043

| align="right" |15,282

|Santiago del Teide

| align="right" |52.21

| align="right" |9,303

| align="right" |10,689

| align="right" |11,101

| align="right" |12,072

|El Sauzal

| align="right" |18.31

| align="right" |7,689

| align="right" |8,988

| align="right" |8,938

| align="right" |9,161

|Los Silos

| align="right" |24.23

| align="right" |5,150

| align="right" |4,909

| align="right" |4,694

| align="right" |4,677

|Tacoronte

| align="right" |30.09

| align="right" |20,295

| align="right" |23,623

| align="right" |24,365

| align="right" |24,701

|El Tanque

| align="right" |23.65

| align="right" |2,966

| align="right" |2,814

| align="right" |2,862

| align="right" |2,810

|Tegueste

| align="right" |26.41

| align="right" |9,417

| align="right" |10,908

| align="right" |11,346

| align="right" |11,375

|La Victoria de Acentejo

| align="right" |18.36

| align="right" |7,920

| align="right" |8,947

| align="right" |9,172

| align="right" |9,223

|Vilaflor de Chasna

| align="right" |56.26

| align="right" |1,718

| align="right" |1,785

| align="right" |1,790

| align="right" |1,850

|- style="background-color:#F6F6F6; font-weight:bold;"

|Totals

| align="right" |2,034.42

| align="right" |701,034

| align="right" |879,303

| align="right" |930,570

| align="right" |948,815

Counties

The counties of Tenerife have no official recognition, but there is a consensus among geographers about them:

Abona
Acentejo
Anaga
Valle de Güímar
Icod
Isora
Valle de La Orotava
Teno

Flags and heraldry

thumb|upright|[[Flag of Tenerife]]

The flag of Tenerife was originally adopted in 1845 by the navy at its base in the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Later, and at present, this flag represents the entire island of Tenerife. It was approved by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife and the Order of the Government of the Canary Islands on 9 May 1989, and published on 22 May in the government report of the Canary Islands, and made official.

thumb|upright|Coat-of-arms of Tenerife

The coat-of-arms of Tenerife was granted by royal decree on 23 March 1510 by Ferdinand II at Madrid in the name of Joan I, Queen of Castile. The coat of arms has a field of gold, with an image of Saint Michael (patron saint of the island) above a mountain depicted in natural brownish hues. Flames erupt from the mountain, symbolizing El Teide. Below this mountain, the island itself is depicted in vert on blue and silver waves. To the right, there is a castle in gules, and to the left, a lion rampant in gules. The shield used by the Cabildo Insular, or Island Government, is slightly different from that of the city government of La Laguna, which features a motto in the arms' border and also includes palm branches.

Natural symbols

The official natural symbols associated with Tenerife are the bird blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) and the Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco) tree.

File:Teidefink.jpg|Fringilla teydea

File:Dracaena draco.jpg|Dracaena draco

</gallery>

Demographics

{| class="toc" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="30%" style="float: right; text-align: center; clear: all; margin-left: 20px; font-size: 90%;"

! bgcolor="#000000" colspan="8" style="color: white;"|Foreign nationalities (2018)

|- bgcolor="#efefef"

! width="3%" | Position

! width="89%" | Nationality

! width="8%" | Population

|1||align="center" | Venezuela || align="right" |42,586

|2||align="center" | Italy || align="right" |19,224

|3||align="center" | Cuba || align="right" |17,745

|4||align="center" | United Kingdom || align="right" |12,321

|5||align="center" | Germany || align="right" |9,590

|6||align="center" | Colombia || align="right" |8,188

|7||align="center" | Argentina || align="right" |8,104

|8||align="center" | Morocco || align="right" |5,656

|9||align="center" | Uruguay || align="right" |4,773

|10||align="center" | China || align="right" |3,832

|11||align="center" | Romania || align="right" |3,761

|12||align="center" | France || align="right" |3,490

|13||align="center" | Belgium || align="right" |2,760

|14||align="center" | India || align="right" |2,404

|15||align="center" | Ecuador || align="right" |2,073

According to INE data as at 1 January 2024, Tenerife has the largest population of the seven Canary Islands and was the most populated island of Spain with 964,021 officially estimated inhabitants, of whom about 22.0 percent (211,436) lived in the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and 40 percent in the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz–La Laguna. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna are physically one urban area, so that together (and including Tegueste and El Rosario) they have a population of 581,947 inhabitants.

Tenerife has two other metropolitan areas recognized by the Ministry of Development; the Tenerife South metropolitan area with 215,532 inhabitants (2024) and the La Orotava Valley metropolitan area with 111,606 inhabitants (2024).

After the city of Santa Cruz the major towns and municipalities as at the start of 2024 are San Cristóbal de La Laguna (160,258), Arona (86,624), Granadilla de Abona (57,143), Adeje (50,549), La Orotava (42,585), Los Realejos (37,522) and Puerto de la Cruz (31,377). All other municipalities have fewer than 30,000 inhabitants; the smallest municipality is Vilaflor, with a population of 1,501.

The island has a high rate of resident population not registered in population censuses, primarily tourists. This has led several sources to note that more than 1 million inhabitants live on the island of Tenerife today. The island is also the most multicultural in the archipelago, with the highest number of registered foreigners (44.9% of registered in Canary Islands), which represent 14% of the total population of the island. Tenerife stands out in the context of the archipelago by also concentrating the largest presence of non-EU foreign population.

Tenerife has three large population areas that are very different and distributed: The Metropolitan Zone, the South Zone, and the North Zone. With several protected natural parks — 48.6% of the territory — and an urban swarm around the island, the insular coastal platform has become a highly urbanized metropolitan system over the last half-century. The high level of population in a relatively small territory — more than 900,000 inhabitants in just over — and the strong urbanization have turned the island of Tenerife, in the words of architect Federico García Barba; on an "island-city" or "island-ring".

thumb|Demographic evolution of Tenerife|left

Recently, Tenerife has experienced population growth significantly higher than the national average. In 1990, there were 663,306 registered inhabitants, which increased to 709,365 in 2000, a rise of 46,059, or an annual growth rate of 0.69 percent. However, between 2000 and 2007, the population rose by 155,705 to 865,070, an annual increase of 3.14 percent.

These results reflect the general trend in Spain, where, since 2000, immigration has reversed the slowdown in population growth that followed the collapse in the birth rate from 1976. However, since 2001, the overall growth rate in Spain has been around 1.7 percent per year, compared with 3.14 percent on Tenerife, one of the largest increases in the country.

The increase in homelessness is becoming a chronic and controversial problem in Tenerife. According to Caritas data from May 2026, there are more than 2,800 people experiencing homelessness on the island. The majority are concentrated in the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which alone accounts for more than a third of the total, with approximately 998 people. It is also the municipality in the Canary Islands with the highest number of homeless people. San Cristóbal de La Laguna follows with 357 people. After these metropolitan municipalities (which together account for 47.5% of the island's total), there are tourist municipalities in the south such as Arona, Adeje, and Granadilla de Abona, and one northern municipality, Puerto de la Cruz. Behind these situations of extreme housing exclusion lie multiple factors, such as the breakdown of family networks, unemployment, difficulties accessing housing, addictions, and mental health problems.

Economy

thumb|right|Harbour

Tenerife is the economic capital of the Canary Islands. At present, Tenerife is the island with the highest GDP in the archipelago (~€25 billion) and has a GDP per capita of ~€26,000. Even though Tenerife's economy is highly specialized in the service sector, which makes 78% of its total production capacity, the importance of the rest of the economic sectors is key to its production development. In this sense, the primary sector, which accounts for only 1.98% of total output, encompasses activities important to the sustainable development of the island's economy. The energy sector, which contributes 2.85%, plays a primary role in the development of renewable energy sources. The industrial sector, which accounts for 5.80%, is a growing activity on the island, vis-à-vis the new possibilities created by technological advances. Finally, the construction sector, with 11.29% of total production, is a strategic priority because it is relatively stable and offers multiple avenues for development and employment.

Tourism

thumb|[[Puerto de la Cruz, in the North, during winter, featuring background snowy mountains]]

Tourism is the most prominent industry in the Canaries, which are among the world's major tourist destinations. Tenerife is the most visited island in the archipelago There are many boats offering whale watching tours from the harbour of Puerto Colon. The deep waters off the coast of Costa Adeje are home to several pods of pilot whales.

In the more lush, green north of the island, the main focus of tourism development has been the town of Puerto de la Cruz. Puerto de la Cruz is home to the SeaWorld-owned zoo, Loro Parque, which has been accused of mistreatment of animals in its captivity, including orcas and is currently boycotted by major travel agents including Thomas Cook.

In the 19th century, large numbers of foreign tourists came, especially British tourists, who showed interest in the islands' agriculture. With the world wars, the tourism sector weakened, but the second half of the 20th century brought renewed interest. The initial emphasis was on Puerto de la Cruz and all the attractions the Valle de la Orotava had to offer. By 1980, tourism was focused on south Tenerife. The emphasis was on cities like Arona or Adeje, shifting to tourist centres such as Los Cristianos or Playa de Las Americas, which now host 65% of the island's hotels. Tenerife receives more than 5 million tourists every year; among the Canary Islands, it is the most popular.

Currently, the municipality of Adeje in the south of the island has the highest concentration of 5 star hotels in Europe and also has what is considered the best luxury hotel in Spain according to World Travel Awards.

Agriculture and fishing

thumb|right|[[Banana plantations in the western coastline (Guía de Isora)]]

Since tourism dominates the Tenerifan economy, the service sector is the largest. Industry and commerce contribute 40% of the non-tourist economy. Agriculture contributes less than 10% of the island's GDP, but its contribution is vital as it also generates indirect benefits by maintaining the rural appearance of the island and supporting Tenerifan cultural values.

Agriculture is centred on the northern slopes, and is affected by altitude as well as orientation: in the coastal zone, tomatoes and bananas are cultivated, these high-yielding products are for export to mainland Spain and the rest of Europe; in the drier intermediate zone, potatoes, tobacco, and maize are grown; whilst in the south, onions are important. After the banana, the most important crops are, in order of importance, tomatoes, grapes, potatoes, and flowers. Fishing is also a major contributor to the Tenerifan economy, as the Canaries are Spain's second most important fishing grounds.

Energy

As of 2009, Tenerife had 910 MW of electrical generation capacity, mostly powered by petroleum-derived fuels. The island had 37 MW of wind turbines and 79 MW of solar panels.

Industry and commerce

Commerce in Tenerife plays a significant role in the economy, accounting for almost 20% of GDP, with the commercial centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife generating most of the earnings. Although there is a diversity of industrial estates on the island, the most important industrial activity is petroleum, which accounts for 10% of the island's GDP, largely due to the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with its refinery. It provides petroleum products not only to the Canary Islands but also to the markets of the Iberian Peninsula, Africa, and South America.

Main sights

Monuments

thumb|[[Castle of San Andrés, declared of National Tourist Interest Centre]]

Historical sights in the island, especially from the time after the conquest, include the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the Church of the Conception of La Laguna and the Church of the Conception in the capital. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria can be found on the island (Patron of the Canary Islands). Also on the island are the defensive castles located in the village of San Andrés, as well as many others throughout the island.

The Auditorio de Tenerife, one of the most modern in Spain, is located at the entrance to the capital (in the southern part of the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Near the Auditorio de Tenerife are El Castillo Negro and El Parque Marítimo. The Torres de Santa Cruz are two twin skyscrapers high (the highest residential buildings in Spain and the tallest skyscrapers in the Canary Islands).

Archeological sites

The island also has several archaeological sites from Guanche times (before the conquest), primarily cave paintings scattered throughout the island, most of which are found in the south.

Archaeological sites on the island include the Cave of the Guanches, where the oldest remains in the archipelago have been found, dating to the 6th century BC, and the Caves of Don Gaspar, where the finding of plant debris in the form of carbonized seeds indicates that the Guanches practiced agriculture on the island. One could also highlight the Cueva de Achbinico (first shrine Marian of the Canary Islands, Guanche vintage-Spanish). In addition, there are some buildings known as the Güímar Pyramids, whose origins are uncertain.

Some traces reveal the Punic presence on the island, as in the wake commonly called "Stone of the Guanches" in the town of Taganana. This archaeological site consists of a large outdoor stone block with rock carvings on its surface. Among these is the presence of a representation of the Carthaginian goddess Tanit, represented by a bottle-shaped symbol surrounded by cruciform motifs. It is thought that the monument was originally an altar of sacrifice linked to those found in the Semitic The Enlightenment reached Tenerife, and literary and artistic figures of this era include José Viera y Clavijo, Tomás de Iriarte y Oropesa, Ángel Guimerá y Jorge, Mercedes Pinto and Domingo Pérez Minik, amongst others.

Painting

thumb|upright|[[Tomás de Iriarte y Oropesa]]

During the course of the 16th century, several painters flourished in La Laguna, as well as in other places on the island, including Garachico, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Orotava, and Puerto de la Cruz. Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana and Gaspar de Quevedo, considered the best Canarian painters of the 17th century, were natives of La Orotava, and their art can be found in churches on Tenerife.

The work of Luis de la Cruz y Ríos can be found in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, in Puerto de la Cruz. Born in 1775, he became court painter to Ferdinand VII of Spain and was also a miniaturist, and achieved a favorable position in the royal court. He was known there by the nickname of "El Canario".

The landscape painter Valentín Sanz (born 1849) was a native of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes de Santa Cruz displays many of his works. This museum also contains the works of Juan Rodríguez Botas (1880–1917), considered the first Canarian impressionist.

Frescoes by the expressionist Mariano de Cossío can be found in the church of Santo Domingo, in La Laguna. The watercolourist Francisco Bonnín Guerín (born 1874) was a native of Santa Cruz and founded a school to encourage the arts. Óscar Domínguez was born in La Laguna in 1906 and is famed for his versatility. He belonged to the surrealist school, and invented the technique known as decalcomania.

Sculpture

The arrival from Seville of Martín de Andújar Cantos, an architect and sculptor, brought new sculpting techniques of the Seville school, which were passed down to his students, including Blas García Ravelo, a native of Garachico. He had been trained by the master sculptor Juan Martínez Montañés.

Other notable sculptors from the 17th and 18th centuries include Sebastián Fernández Méndez, Lázaro González de Ocampo, José Rodríguez de la Oliva, and most importantly, Fernando Estévez, a native of La Orotava and a student of Luján Pérez. Estévez contributed an extensive collection of religious images and woodcarvings, found in numerous churches of Tenerife, such as the Principal Parish of Saint James the Great (Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago), in Los Realejos; in the Cathedral of La Laguna; the Iglesia de la Concepción in La Laguna; the basilica of Candelaria, and various churches in La Orotava.

Music

thumb|left|upright|Canarian timple

An important musician from Tenerife is Teobaldo Power y Lugo Viña, a native of Santa Cruz and a pianist and composer, and author of the Cantos Canarios. The Hymn of the Canary Islands takes its melody from the Arrorró, or Lullaby, from Power y Lugo Viña's Cantos Canarios.

Folkloric music has also flourished on the island, and, as in the rest of the islands, is characterized by the use of the Canarian Timple, the guitar, bandurria, laúd, and various percussion instruments. Local folkloric groups such as Los Sabandeños work to preserve Tenerife's musical forms amid increasing cultural pressure from the mainland.

Tenerife is the home to the types of songs called the isa, folía, tajaraste, and malagueña, which are a cross of ancient Guanche songs and those of Andalusia and Latin America.

Architecture

thumb|[[Pyramids of Güímar]]

thumb|Architecture in Santa Cruz ([[Plaza de España (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)|Plaza de España)]]

thumb|[[Auditorio de Tenerife, icon of architecture in Canary Islands]]

Tenerife is characterized by an architecture whose best representatives are the local manor houses and the most humble, common dwellings. This style, while influenced by those of Andalusia and Portugal, nevertheless had a very particular and native character.

In recent years, various governments have spearheaded the concept of developing architectural projects, sometimes ostentatious ones, designed by renowned architects–for example, the remodeling of the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. Other examples include the Playa de Las Teresitas project by the Frenchman Dominique Perrault; the centre known as Magma Arte & Congresos; the Torres de Santa Cruz; and the Auditorio de Tenerife ("Auditorium of Tenerife"). The latter, by the Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, lies to the east of the Parque Marítimo ("Maritime Park"), in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is characterized by its sail-like structure, which evokes a boat, and has become a symbol for the city and island, which makes Santa Cruz de Tenerife one of the Spanish cities with the most futuristic buildings.

Crafts

thumb|left|Traditional costume

Distinctive representatives of craftsmanship on the island are Tenerife lace (calado canario), which is drawn work embroidery, and the intricate doilies known as rosetas, or rosette embroidery, particularly from Vilaflor. The lace, often made for table linen, is produced by the intricate and slow embroidering of a stretched piece of cloth, which is rigidly attached to a wooden frame and is finished with illustrations or patterns using threads that are crossed over and wound around the fijadores, or pins stuck in a small support made of cloth. These decorated, small pieces are afterward joined to produce distinct designs and pieces of cloth.

Another Tenerife-based industry is cabinetwork. The north of the island produced master artisans who crafted distinctive balconies, celosias, doors, and windows, as well as fine wood furniture. Basketmaking using palm leaves was also an important industry. Other materials are chestnut tree branches stripped of their leaves and banana tree fibre (known locally as la badana).

Pottery has a long history, dating back to the Guanches' ceramic production. The Guanches were unfamiliar with the potter's wheel, and used hand-worked clay, which gave their pottery a distinctive look. Pottery was used to produce domestic objects such as pots and grills, or ornamental pieces such as bead collars or the objects known as pintaderas, which were pieces of pottery used to decorate other vessels. The carnival is celebrated in many locations in the north and south of the island, but is largest in scope in the city of Santa Cruz. Contests are celebrated, and the carnival includes bands of street musicians (murgas), groups of minstrels (rondallas de Tenerife), masquerades (comparsas), and various associations (agrupaciones). Once the Queen of the festival is elected, the first part of the carnival ends, and thereafter begins the actual street carnival, in which large numbers of people gather in the centre of Santa Cruz, with the carnival lasting ten days.

Pilgrimages (Romerías)

The most traditional and widespread religious festivals on the islands are the pilgrimages or romerías. These events, which incorporate Christian and non-Christian elements, are celebrated by various means: with wagons and floats, plowing teams and livestock, in honor of the patron saint of a particular place. The processions are accompanied by local dances, local dishes, folkloric activities, local arts and crafts, local sports, and the wearing of traditional Tenerife dress (trajes de mago).

The origins of these events can be attributed to the parties and celebrations held by the island's richest classes, who would gather to venerate their patron saints, to whom they attributed good harvests, fertile lands, plentiful rainfall, the curing of illnesses, and the end of epidemics, etc. They would thus pay homage to these saints by consuming and sharing the fruits of their harvest, including locally cultivated wines. These have developed into processions to mark festivals dedicated to Saint Mark in Tegueste, where the wagons are decorated with the fruits of the earth (seeds, cereals, flowers, etc.); to Saint Isidore the Laborer in Los Realejos; to Saint Isidore the Laborer and Maria Torribia (Saint Mary of the Head) in La Orotava; the Romería Regional de San Benito Abad in La Laguna; Virgin of Candelaria in Candelaria; Saint Roch in Garachico; Saint Augustine in Arafo; and the Romería del Socorro in Güímar.

Holiday of the Virgin of Candelaria

The Virgin of Candelaria is the patron of the Canary Islands; a feast is held in her honor two times a year, in February and August. The Romeria-Offering to the Virgin of Candelaria is celebrated every 15 August. In this event, it is a tradition for representatives of all municipalities on the island and across the Canary archipelago to come and make offerings to their patron. Another significant act of the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria is called "Walk to Candelaria" held on the night of 14 to 15 August, in which the faithful make pilgrimage on foot from various parts of the island, even coming from other islands, to arrive at Villa Mariana de Candelaria.

On 2 February, we celebrate the feast of the Candelaria. Also on this day, many devotees of the Virgin come to town. During the February festivities, the so-called "Procesión de Las Candelas" (Candlelight Procession) stands out, in which the faithful accompany the Virgin in the dark of night, lit only by candles, as they pray the rosary.

Holiday of the Cristo de La Laguna

It is celebrated every 14 September in honor of a much venerated image of Christ in the Archipelago, the Cristo de La Laguna, which is held in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Every 9 September, the venerated image of Christ is lowered in public from the main altar of its Royal Sanctuary, after which, the faithful kiss the feet of the image. The image is solemnly transferred in procession to the Cathedral of La Laguna on that afternoon, where it remains for several days until 14 September, the main day, when it is transferred back to its Sanctuary.

Corpus Christi

thumb|Soil Tapestry in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Square) in [[La Orotava]]

The religious festival of Corpus Christi is particularly important, and is traditionally celebrated with floral carpets laid in the streets. Particularly noteworthy are the celebrations in La Orotava, where a very large carpet, or tapestry, of different-coloured volcanic soils covers the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town square). These soils are taken from the Parque Nacional del Teide and, after the celebration, returned to preserve the National Park. The celebration of Corpus Christi in Orotava has been declared of Important Cultural Interest among the official Traditional Activities of the Island.

Easter

Among the numerous other celebrations that define Tenerifan culture, Easter remains the most important. This is celebrated across the island, but is particularly notable in the municipalities of La Laguna, La Orotava, and Los Realejos, where elaborate processions take place on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, or "Resurrection Sunday". Holy Week in the city of San Cristobal de la Laguna is the largest of the Canary Islands.

Religion

thumb|[[Cathedral of La Laguna, seat of the local Catholic diocese]]

As with the rest of Spain, Tenerife is largely Catholic. However, the practice of other religions and denominations has increasingly expanded on the island due to tourism and immigration, as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Evangelicalism, Judaism and Afro-American religion. Minority religions are stationed in the island: Chinese Religions, Baháʼí The Guanches became devoted to a Black Madonna that Christian missionaries from Lanzarote and Fuerteventura left on a beach near the present-day Villa Mariana de Candelaria, which gave rise to the legends and stories associated with the Virgin. These legends fueled the cult of the Virgin and the pilgrimages to Candelaria that have existed to this day on the island. Another cult to the Virgin exists in the form of Our Lady of Los Remedios (la Virgen de Los Remedios), who is patron of the island and Catholic diocese of Tenerife (Diócesis Nivariense).

thumb|right|[[Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur, franciscan missionary in Guatemala born in Tenerife. He was the first Canarian to be canonized by the Catholic Church. This saint is very venerated in Tenerife.]]

In Tenerife, two Catholic saints were born who were among the greatest missionaries in the Americas: Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur and José de Anchieta. The first was a missionary in Guatemala and founder of Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem (the first religious order of the Americas), the second was a missionary in Brazil, and was one of the founders of São Paulo and of Rio de Janeiro. It also highlights the figure of the mystic Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado. This nun, known for her holiness, died and is highly revered throughout the Canary Islands. Her body is intact in the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

Principal Catholic places of worship on the island include:

The Basilica of Candelaria (in Candelaria): The place where the image of the Virgin of Candelaria can be found, this sanctuary is built in neoclassical style, and is visited daily by the parishioners, who visit the Villa Mariana out of devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria.
The Cathedral of La Laguna (in San Cristóbal de La Laguna): The seat of the Diocese of Tenerife (known as the Diócesis Nivariense, or Nivarian Diocese), the cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies (la Virgen de Los Remedios)—a combination of neo-Gothic and neoclassical architectural elements.
Real Santuario del Cristo de La Laguna (in San Cristóbal de La Laguna): One of the most important churches in the Canary Islands, it contains the venerated image of the Cristo de La Laguna, and is a symbol of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
* Mother Parish of the Apostle Santiago (Los Realejos) (Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago): Situated in Villa de Los Realejos, this parish church was the first Christian church built on the island after its conquest by Castilian forces. It is dedicated to Saint James the Great, as the conquista was completed on the saint's feast day on 25 July 1496. It was, along with the Parish of the Conception of La Laguna, one of the first parishes of the island.
The Church of the Conception of La Laguna (Iglesia de la Concepción de La Laguna): One of the most ancient buildings on Tenerife, its construction was ordered by Alonso Fernández de Lugo. It has been declared a National Historic Monument. Around this church were built the dwellings and infrastructure that formed the nucleus of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

Other important churches include the Church of the Conception in La Orotava (Iglesia de la Concepción); the churches of San Agustín and Santo Domingo in La Orotava; the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia in Puerto de la Cruz; the church of San Marcos in Icod de los Vinos; the church of Santa Ana in Garachico; and the Church of the Conception (Iglesia de la Concepción) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The first saint of Tenerife and Canary Islands was Saint Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, born in the town of Vilaflor, Tenerife. His main shrine is the Cave of Santo Hermano Pedro in Granadilla de Abona, near the coast, where he lived in his youth. This cave is considered one of the most important pilgrimage spots of the Canary Islands.

Another notable building on the island is the Masonic Temple of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, generally considered the finest example of Masonic temple architecture in Spain; it was the Masonic centre of the country until the military occupation of the island by the Franco regime.

The headquarters of the Islamic Federation of the Canary Islands is in Tenerife; the organization was founded to unite the Muslim communities of the Canary Islands in a common association. For its part, the headquarters of the Evangelical Council of the Canary Islands is also on the island.

Education

Formal education in Tenerife began with the religious orders. In 1530, the Dominican Order established a chair of philosophy at the convent of La Concepción de La Laguna. Still, until well into the 18th century, Tenerife was largely without educational institutions.

thumb|left|[[University of La Laguna, the oldest and largest university in the Canary Islands]]

Such institutions finally began to develop thanks to the work of the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País ("Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country"), which established several schools in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The first of these was an institute of secondary education established in 1846 to fill the gap left by the closure of the Universidad de San Fernando (see University of La Laguna).

An 1850 annex to this building was the Escuela Normal Elemental, the archipelago's first teachers' college or normal school, which became the Escuela Normal Superior de Magisterio from 1866 onward. These were the only institutions of higher education until the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera established several new ones. A turning point came around the time of the Second Spanish Republic's rise. From 1929 to 1933, the number of schools nearly doubled.

Shortly after this, though, the onset of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco marked a considerable reversal. Education in the hands of religious orders had a certain importance on the island until the 1970 Ley General de Educación ("General Law of Education") shifted the balance from religiously based education to public education. Public schools continued their advance during and after the post-Franco Spanish transition to democracy. Tenerife today has 301 centres of childhood education (preschools), 297 primary schools, 140 secondary schools, and 86 post-secondary schools. There are also five universities or post-graduate schools, the University of La Laguna, the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (National University of Distance Learning), the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (Menéndez Pelayo International University), the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (University of Alfonso X the Wise) and the Universidad de Vic (Escuela Universitaria de Turismo de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, "University School of Tourism of Santa Cruz de Tenerife"). The largest of these is the University of La Laguna.

The Universidad Europea de Canarias (European University of the Canary Islands) is located in La Orotava and is the first private university in the Canary Islands.

Science and research

thumb|left|[[Teide Observatory, part of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Astrophysics Institute of the Canaries)]]

While Tenerife is not prominent in the history of scientific and academic research, it is the home of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries). There is also an Instituto de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (Antonio González Bio-Organic Institute) at the University of La Laguna. Also at that university are the Instituto de Lingüística Andrés Bello (Andrés Bello Institute of Linguistics), the Centro de Estudios Medievales y Renacentistas (Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies), the Instituto Universitario de la Empresa (University Institute of Business), the Instituto de Derecho Regional (Regional Institute of Law), the Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales (University Institute of Political and Social Sciences) and the Instituto de Enfermedades Tropicales (Institute of Tropical Diseases). This last is one of the seven institutions of the Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET, "Network of Research of Centres of Tropical Diseases"), located in various parts of Spain.

Puerto de la Cruz has the Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de Canarias (Institute of Hispanic Studies of the Canaries), attached to Madrid's Instituto de Cultura Hispánica. In La Laguna is the Canarian delegation of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC, Superior Council of Scientific Investigations), the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (Canarian Institute of Agrarian Investigation), the Instituto de Estudios Canarios (Canarian Institute of Studies) and the Centro Internacional para la Conservación del Patrimonio (the International Centre of the Conservation of Patrimony).

Other research facilities in Tenerife are the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, the Instituto Vulcanológico de Canarias, the Asociación Industrial de Canarias, the Instituto Tecnológico de Energías Renovables (Technological Institute of Renewable Energy), and the Instituto Oceanográfico de Canarias in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Museums

thumb|right|[[Guanche mummies|Guanche mummy in the Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre]]

thumb|right|[[Guanches|Guanche figures at Pueblo Chico in La Oratava]]

The island boasts a variety of museums under the auspices of various institutions. Perhaps the most developed are those belonging to the Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros, which include the following:

Museum of Nature and Man: located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this museum exhibits the natural riches of the Canary Islands and of the pre-Hispanic people who inhabited these. The Museum of Nature and Man is a world reference for the preservation of mummies. The complex is composed of three museums:
The Museum of Natural Sciences
The Archaeological Museum of Tenerife
The Canarian Institute of Bioanthropology
Museum of the History of Tenerife: located in the city of La Laguna, the history museum presents an overview of the institutional, social, economic, and cultural development of the island from the 15th to 20th centuries.
The Museum of Science and the Cosmos, also located in La Laguna, adjacent to the property of the Instituto de Astrofísica, is a museum about the laws and principles of nature, from those of the cosmos to those of the human body.
The Museum of Anthropology of Tenerife, in La Laguna as well, more specifically in Valle de Guerra, is a public institution for the investigation, conservation, and spread of popular culture
The Centro de Documentación Canario-Americano (CEDOCAM, Centre for Canarian-American Documentation), located in La Laguna, has a mission of strengthening cultural relations and elements of common identity between the Canaries and the Americas, through such means as conservation, information, and diffusion of their shared documentary patrimony.
The Centro de Fotografía Isla de Tenerife ("Island of Tenerife Photographic Centre") located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers an annual program of exhibitions that allows contact with tendencies and works of various renowned and emergent photographers of the Canaries. In the future, this centre will share a headquarters with the Instituto Óscar Domínguez de Arte y Cultura Contemporánea (Óscar Domínguez Institute of Art and Culture).
The Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA, "Tenerife Arts Space") also in Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded to promote knowledge of the many contemporary tendencies in art and culture among the local population and visitors, by organizing cultural, scientific, educational, and technical activities.

Independent of the Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros are:

The Casa del Carnaval or Carnival House, located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a museum dedicated to the history of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The enclosure has two exhibition areas: one for temporary exhibitions and also used as an assembly hall, and another for permanent exhibitions in which the costumes of the queen of the carnival of each year stand out, the original posters of the carnival, thematic videos of the history of the party, touch screens, and virtual reality glasses.
The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in the Tenerifan capital has a permanent exhibit of the paintings and sculptures of José de Ribera, Federico Madrazo, Joaquín Sorolla and such Canarian artists as Manolo Millares and Óscar Domínguez.
The Casa del Vino-La Baranda ("House of Wine-La Baranda"), a member of the Asociación de Museos del Vino de España (Association of Wine Museums of Spain), is located in the municipality of El Sauzal. Its facilities include a rustic, historic hacienda, a museum of viticulture in Tenerife, a restaurant serving typical Tenerifan cuisine, a wine store, an audiovisual hall, and a tasting room.
The Casa de la Miel ("House of Honey") is an annex to the Casa del Vino-La Baranda, and was established by the Cabildo Insular to support and develop the apicultural (bee-keeping) sector on Tenerife. The visitor centre of the Casa de la Miel offers exhibits about the history of this industry on the island and how apiculture is conducted, as well as information services and opportunities to taste Tenerifan denominación de origen honeys.
The Museum of Iberoamerican Artisanship is located in the old convent of San Benito Abad, in La Orotava. El centro se encuadra dentro del programa de divulgación que ejecuta el Centre for Documentation of Artisanship in Spain and the Americas, The Foundation is financed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation), the Comisión Nacional "Quinto Centeneario" ("Fifth Centenary" National Commission), the Consejería de Industria y Comercio del Gobierno de Canarias (Council of Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canaries), and the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife. It has five galleries, specialized in popular musical instruments, textiles / new designs in artisanship, ceramics, fibers, and popular art.
The Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz in the city of the same name is located in a traditional casona (a type of house dating from the 18th–19th century), offers an archival collection comprising more than 2,600 specimens of items from the Guanche culture, and a document collection named after researcher Luis Diego Cuscoy.
The Regional Military Museum of the Canaries is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, more specifically in the Fuerte de Almeyda district. Its galleries present the full military history of the Canary Islands, including the repulsion of the attack by British Admiral Horatio Nelson, as well as other events and battles fought in the islands. Separate from the Regional Military Museum are files providing the Intermediate Military Archive of the Canaries and the Military Library of the Canary Islands.

Media

Along with many Spanish-language radio and TV stations, Tenerife has two official English-language radio stations. Coast FM broadcasts a mix of adult contemporary music and is the only local news service to broadcast in English.

As the larger of the two stations, Coast FM can be heard across Tenerife and much of the Canary Islands from its transmitters on 106.6, 92.2, and 89.4. Energy FM is a non-stop music station that also broadcasts local news and information every hour.

Transport and communications

thumb|Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The island of Tenerife is served by Tenerife North Airport (GCXO) and Tenerife South Airport (GCTS). Thanks to its two airports, Tenerife gathers the highest passenger movement of all the Canary Islands, with 18,457,794 passengers.

Tenerife North Airport, the smaller of the two, is located near the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz-La Laguna (423,000 inhabitants). It serves inter-insular flights as well as national and European flights. Tenerife South Airport (south) is the busiest airport in Tenerife, ranking 7th in Spain. It typically serves the mass of regular and vacation charter flights constantly arriving from most of Europe.

The other way to get to Tenerife is by ferry, either to Santa Cruz de Tenerife or to Los Cristianos, near Playa de Las Américas.

A network consisting of two fast, toll-free motorways (TF1 and TF5) encircles nearly the entire island, linking all the main towns and resorts with the metropolitan area. The exception is in the West, from Adeje to Icod de los Vinos, which is traversed by a smaller winding mountain road. However, plans to complete the motorway are underway, sparking a heated debate between environmentalists and local business owners.

Away from the major motorways, there is a network of secondary and communal roads, ranging from wide to steep, winding, narrow roads, mainly unlit and often with drops on either side of the main carriageway.

thumb|right|Teno, the westernmost point in the island

Public transport on the island is provided by an extensive network of buses operated by TITSA, which runs a fleet of modern, air-conditioned buses. TITSA buses cover most of the island, and they are fairly frequent. For multiple journeys, customers can purchase a TenMas contactless smart card for €2, which can be topped up with up to €100 in travel credit. Using the TenMas card provides a discount on cash fares, and, for Tenerife residents, a card that allows unlimited travel for a monthly fee is also available. The card can be purchased and topped up at bus stations and many newsagents. It is also valid on the tram in the capital, Santa Cruz.

A hire car is sometimes a good option for exploring remote wilderness regions. However, TITSA operates reliable bus services to the remotest spots, such as the Teno Massif via Masca (355) and up the Anaga mountains (247). TITSA operates two daily services up Mount Teide – from Puerto de la Cruz (348) and from Los Cristianos/Las Americas (342)- to the Teide Parador, Teleférico cable car, Montana Blanca, and El Portillo.

The metropolitan area comprising Santa Cruz and La Laguna is served by the Tranvía de Tenerife (Tenerife Tram), which opened in early 2007 after 3 years of intensive work. The fairly lengthy line from Santa Cruz up the hill to La Laguna serves almost 20 stops. A second line within La Laguna was added in 2009.

Roads

thumb|TF5 motorway approaching Santa Cruz

The main means of transportation in Tenerife is by highway. The most important of these are the Autopista del Sur and the Autopista del Norte (the North and South Motorways), which run from the metropolitan zone to the south and north, respectively. These two motorways are connected by means of the Autovía de Interconexión Norte-Sur in the outskirts of the metropolitan zone. Within the network of roads on the island of Tenerife, there are other minor roads that used to include the highway from San Andres and Santa Cruz.

Also planned is the construction of a bypass road north of the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna. This aims to provide dual cores to Guamasa and Acorán, by way of Los Baldíos, Centenero, Llano del Moro, El Sobradillo, El Tablero, and El Chorrillo, among other neighbourhoods. The route will be approximately long and will cost an estimated 190 million euros (270 million in American dollars).

Airports

thumb|Tenerife North Airport

Tenerife is most easily reached by air. There are two airports: Tenerife South Airport, in the south, and Tenerife North Airport, near Santa Cruz. Overall, Tenerife has the highest annual passenger count and the greatest number of arrivals in the Canary Islands, further boosted by the availability of cheap flights from many European destinations. Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport together account for the highest passenger numbers in the Islands with some 14 million passengers annually (AENA report). Of the two airports on the island, Tenerife South is the most popular.

Ports

Besides air transport, Tenerife has two principal maritime ports: the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Puerto de Santa Cruz), which serves the various capitals of the Canary Islands, especially those in the east; and the Port of Los Cristianos (Puerto de Los Cristianos), which serves the various island capitals of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The first port also offers passenger services connecting to the mainland port of Cádiz (and vice versa). In 2017, a large important port was opened in the south of the island, the Port of Granadilla, and another one is planned in the west, in Fonsalía. The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the first fishing port in the Canary Islands with approximately 7,500 tons of fish caught, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the State Ports 2006 (the latest of which is changing). Following this report is the largest number of passengers recorded. Similarly, the second port of Spain, moving ship and loaded into cars, only surpassed by the Port of Algeciras Bay. The port's facilities include a border inspection post (BIP) approved by the European Union, which is responsible for inspecting all types of imports from third countries or exports to countries outside the European Economic Area.

Buses (guaguas)

Tenerife has an extensive bus system, called guaguas in the Canary Islands. The bus system is used both within cities and to connect most of the island's towns and cities. There are bus stations in all of the major towns, such as the Intercambiador de Transportes de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Taxis

There is a well-regulated taxi service on the island.

Tramway

thumb|right|Tramway servicing between Santa Cruz and La Laguna

Since 2007, the Tenerife Tram connects Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna through the suburb of Taco. There are 20 stops, and it covers in 37 minutes. It calls at several points of interest, including Tenerife's two major hospitals, the Guajara university complex, and some museums and theatres. Regarding its power supply, it will support the development of additional wind farms to provide 100 percent clean energy.

Railway plans

By 2005, plans for a light-rail network linking the capital with the South had been approved by both the Tenerife Council and the Canary Islands Government, though the discussion with the central Spanish Government stalled on budget issues. The original intent was to establish two railway systems that would serve the northern and southern sides of the island connecting these with the capital.

By March 2011, these intentions had been replaced by advanced plans for a single high-speed rail line, the "South Train" which would connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Adeje via Santa Maria de Añaza, Candelaria, San Isidro, Tenerife South Airport, and a main stopover station at Adeje which would be designed to service up to 25,000 passengers per day. Trains would run every 15 minutes during rush hours and reach speeds of up to . The project, which involves 9 tunnels, 12 false tunnels (for a total of 22.1 km), and 33 viaducts (8.3 km), has been budgeted at EUR 1.7 bn. It has met staunch opposition from local environmentalists.

Plans for the train system were resurrected in 2017. Construction is expected to start by 2027.

An alternate plan for a high-speed Transrapid maglev has also been put forward.

Tourist bus train

A tourist train (Tren Turístico) serves Costa Adeje to Los Cristianos with several stops, including Playa de las Americas. It is served by a motor vehicle designed to resemble a train, with a separate carriage attached.

Cableway

thumb|alt=Teide cableway|Teide cableway

Sports

On the island of Tenerife, a wide range of sports are practised, both outdoors and indoors, across the various facilities available throughout the island. The sports are numerous – diving, rock climbing, walking, cycling, sailing, golf, surfing, go-karting, paragliding – the all-year-round warm weather makes it ideal for a wide variety of outdoor sports.

There are also many indoor sporting facilities, including a fully equipped 'Tenerife Top Training' centre in Adeje on the South of the Island. Its most well-known sports team is football club CD Tenerife based in Santa Cruz. The club has spent time in the Spanish top flight but has, in recent decades, primarily played in the second division of Spanish football. Also worth mentioning is the ultramarathon CajaMar Tenerife Bluetrail, the highest race in Spain and second in Europe, with the participation of several countries and great international repercussions.

Healthcare

thumb|right|[[Hospital Universitario de Canarias]]

The main hospitals on the island are the Hospital Universitario de Canarias and the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Both are third-level hospitals, with specialist facilities that serve all of the Canary Islands. They are both affiliated with the education and research network of the Universidad de La Laguna. However, they belong to different bodies, since the first one is under the directives of the Servicio Canario de la Salud (Canarian Health Service). The Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria it is the largest hospital complex in the Canary Islands.

In addition, two large new hospitals have recently been built in the north and south of the island, in the municipalities of Icod de los Vinos and Arona, respectively. The Hospital del Norte de Tenerife (Tenerife North Hospital) opened in 2012, and the Hospital del Sur de Tenerife (Tenerife South Hospital) opened in 2015. These centres will function, according to their classification, as second-level hospitals, with services of hospitalization, advanced diagnosis, ambulances and emergencies, and rehabilitation, etc. There are also a total of 39 centres of primary care and specialized clinics which complete the sanitary infrastructure of Tenerife.

Gastronomy

Fish

As an island, Tenerife enjoys an abundance of fish. The species that are consumed the most are the Combtooth blennies (viejas), as well as sea bream (sama), red porgy (bocinegro), gold lined bream (salema), grouper (mero), and various and abundant types of Thunnus. The Atlantic mackerel (caballa), sardine (sardine), and Jack mackerels (chicharros) are also consumed frequently. Moray eels (morenas) are also eaten, usually fried. Most seafood is cooked, usually boiled, or prepared "a la espalda" (cut into two equally shaped pieces along the spine) or "a la sal" (baked in salt). These dishes are usually accompanied by mojo (a local sauce) and wrinkly potatoes. Rabbit in salmorejo, goat, beef, pork, and poultry are regularly consumed. The cheeses of the Canaries have generally received good international reviews, noted for their sweetness which differentiates them from certain other European cheeses. In particular, Tenerifan cured goats cheese was awarded best cheese in the world final of the 2008 World Cheese Awards held in Dublin, Ireland.

Cheeses from Tenerife now have a quality mark promoted by the Fundación Tenerife Rural to standardize quality, highlight their qualities, and improve their marketing. Writers such as William Shakespeare and Walter Scott refer to the wine in some of their works. Tenerife has 5 main wine growing regions. These include Abona, Valle de Güímar, Valle de La Orotava, Tacoronte-Acentejo and Ycoden-Daute-Isora.

This typical gastronomy is served in popular establishments known as guachinches, opening day is the day of San Andrés, 30 November, also known as the young wine festival Festival de Vino Joven. The wine of the new harvest is traditionally served with roasted chestnuts, maturing at the same time, and grilled sardines; the season normally lasts from late autumn until early spring.

In popular culture

Cities

The city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, has a historical inner suburb named Teneriffe, named by one of the first European landowners in the area, James Gibbon, because it reminded him of Mount Teide.

Other cities in the world whose name has its origins in the island are: Tenerife, Magdalena, a town and municipality in Colombia; San Carlos de Tenerife, a city in the Dominican Republic.

Cinema

Over the last few years, Tenerife has become a popular filming location, being featured in several Hollywood blockbusters. Some of the most important films made on the island are:

One Million Years B.C.: British film of 1966 directed by Don Chaffey and shot in Teide National Park.
Clash of the Titans: American film of 2010, directed by Louis Leterrier. It is mainly located in different locations in Tenerife, such as Teide National Park, Icod de los Vinos, Buenavista del Norte, and Chío pine forests in the municipality of Guía de Isora.
Wrath of the Titans: American film 2012, directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Shot largely in the Teide National Park.
1898, Our Last Men in the Philippines: Spanish film of 2012 directed by Salvador Calvo, with some scenes shot in Tenerife.
Fast & Furious 6: 2013 American film directed by Justin Lin. At the beginning of the movie, Dom, along with Brian, Mia, and their son, lives in Tenerife after their heist in Brazil in Fast Five. Also, the tank chase scene was filmed on part of the Autopista TF-1.
Jason Bourne: American film of 2015, directed by Paul Greengrass and shot in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. For this, the city was specially set to simulate the Greek cities of Athens and Piraeus. The Plaza de España, which is the main square in the capital of Tenerife, was decorated to represent the Syntagma Square.
Rambo: Last Blood: American film of 2019, directed by Adrian Grunberg and with the performances of Sylvester Stallone, Matt Cirulnick and Paz Vega, among others. It was shot in different locations on the island, such as: different neighborhoods of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, areas of Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Úrsula, Arico and the roads around the Teide National Park, among others places.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera: American film of 2025, directed by Christian Gudegast, was largely shot in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Music

Likewise, the island has been home to several musical recordings and has served as a scenic setting for music videos:

"Tie Your Mother Down": song of the English musician Brian May, who studied different astronomical phenomena from Izaña in the Cañadas del Teide and wrote this song in this national park.
Mike Oldfield included in his compilation The Complete Fel of 1985, the song "Mount Teide" dedicated to this volcano from Tenerife.
The music video of the song "If I Let You Go", filmed on location in Tenerife, depicts Irish boyband Westlife walking along a beach and singing by a hillside surrounded by red and yellow flags.
"The Island – Pt. 1 Dawn": video clip of the Australian group Pendulum, which was recorded entirely in Teide National Park and published in 2010. In this video, you can distinguish, from the beginning, the silhouette of Teide volcano and the characteristic landscapes of the Park throughout the filming.
Songwriter and singer Ed Sheeran wrote a song, "Tenerife Sea", for his second studio album X, that mentions the island entitled Tenerife Sea. The title references a line in which Sheeran compares the colour of his love interest's eyes to the sea surrounding the island.
The video clip of the song "Do It for Your Lover", with which the Spanish singer Manel Navarro represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, was recorded in different locations of Tenerife, especially in the Macizo de Anaga and in El Porís (Arico).
Singer Blas Cantó (representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020) recorded in Tenerife and Lanzarote the video clip of the song "Universo", with which he represents Spain.

Video games

Asphalt 8: Airborne features four race tracks on Tenerife.
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis houses that fictional Kolgujev island, based on Tenerife.
In My Summer Car, the main character's parents go to Tenerife on vacation.

In literature

Literary works featuring Tenerife include "The Companion" and "The Man from the Sea", both by Agatha Christie; La cueva de las mil momias by Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa; Thieves' Picnic by Leslie Charteris; and El Sarcófago de las tres llaves by Pompeyo Reina Moreno. and Atentado by Mariano Gambín.

International relations

Tenerife is twinned with:

Miami-Dade, United States
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

References

External links

Island Government of Tenerife

Demonym

Territorial organisation before the conquest (the Guanches)

Castilian conquest

Spanish rule

Trade with the Americas

Emigration to the Americas

Modern history

Geography

Water

Pollution and air quality

Geology

Massifs

Protected natural areas

Administration

Law and order

Government

Municipalities

Counties

Flags and heraldry

Natural symbols

Demographics

Economy

Tourism

Agriculture and fishing

Energy

Industry and commerce

Main sights

Monuments

Archeological sites

Painting

Sculpture

Music

Architecture

Crafts

Pilgrimages (Romerías)

Holiday of the Virgin of Candelaria

Holiday of the Cristo de La Laguna

Corpus Christi

Easter

Religion

Education

Science and research

Museums

Media

Transport and communications

Roads

Airports

Ports

Buses (guaguas)

Taxis

Tramway

Railway plans

Tourist bus train

Cableway

Sports

Healthcare

Gastronomy

Fish

In popular culture

Cities

Cinema

Music

Video games

In literature

International relations

See also

References

External links