GEOGRAPHIC DATA: The Canary Islands consist of seven main islands and six islets. Their northernmost edge is situated 29º & 25´ N and their southernmost edge, 27º & 38´ N. Their maximum altitude is 3,718 meters (Peak of el Teide, on Tenerife).
POLITIC DATA:The Canary Islands are one of Spain’s Autonomous Communities and are fully integrated into the European Union as one of its outermost regions. The immigration and customs laws of the EU therefore apply in the Islands, with certain special features. The Canary Islands have their own Economic and Fiscal Regime, with advantages for companies established in the region. The Islands have an autonomous government and an autonomous parliament with wide-ranging legislative powers. On a further administrative level, there are seven Island Councils (Cabildos), and the Islands are divided into 88 municipalities.
AREA: The total area is 7446 square kilometres, consisting of 1114 kilometres of coastline and 257 kilometres of beaches. El Hierro, the smallest island, has an area of 269 square kilometres, while Tenerife, at the opposite end of the scale, has 2034. Gran Canaria has an area of 1560 square kilometres, La Palma 708 and La Gomera 369. The area of Fuerteventura is 1660 square kilometres and that of Lanzarote is 846.
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA: 2.025.951 inhabitants (2007), with an average population density of 272 inhabitants per square kilometre.
CURRENCY: Euro.
LANGUAGE: Spanish.
ANNUAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: 22º Celsius / 71.6º Fahrenheit.
TIMETABLES AND HOLIDAY CALENDAR: The Canary Islands follow the GMT time throughout the year, except between the months of April and October when it is GMT+1. The holidays for 2008 in the entire Autonomous Community are the following: 1st and 7th January, 20th and 21th March, 1st and 30th May, 15th August, 1st November and 6th, 8th and 25th December. Apart from these, each island has a holiday and each municipality can choose two more days.
INFRASTRUCTURES: 8 airports and 41 ports including marinas and fishing ports.
ENVIONMENTAL DATA: The Canary Islands have four national parks, 146 protected natural spaces and four Biosphere Reserves. Altogether, there are 1,386 autochthonous species and 540 endemic species.
TOURIST FIGURES: In 2007, the number of incoming foreign tourists was 9,328,546. Accommodation facilities include 166,296 hotel bed places (in 575 establishments) and 228,603 non-hotel bed places (in 2,482 establishments). There are 21 golf courses, 9 conference centres and 7 gaming casinos.
BUSINESS HOURS: from 09:00 until 13:00 and from 16:00 until 20:00, although large shopping centres are open all day. |
