Teide, a volcano on the island of Tenerife: description, excursions, reviews

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Teide Volcano is located in the Canary Islands. It is considered the highest point in Spain. After all, it is she who owns the island of Tenerife, which actually represents the spurs of this fire-breathing mountain. The volcano is the center of the National Park of the same name and attracts many tourists. Let's take a virtual tour of this wonder of nature. And at the same time we find out what kind of volcano it is. We will tell you what he is famous for and why so many people are so eager to see him.

Description

Administratively, the Teide volcano belongs to the municipality of La Orotava. Its height is 3700 meters above sea level. But this mountain rises from the bottom of the ocean, and the island of Tenerife is only a visible part of it. Therefore, the total height of the Teide volcano, including underwater slopes, is about seven and a half kilometers. The top of the mountain and the crater are sometimes covered in snow, although the islands themselves are to the south. The first national park in Spain was founded on its territory. Teide is considered the third largest volcanic island in the world. In this regard, the national park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A bit of geology and history

Volcano formedTeide approximately 150 thousand years ago. Then there was a very strong eruption, as a result of which another fire-breathing mountain arose - Las Cañadas. Then its top fell inward. A huge hole appeared. On its northern slopes, after several eruptions of magma, our volcano Teide also arose. The eruption from its mouth, according to legend, was seen by Christopher Columbus when he sailed past the Canary Islands. In 1492, he left an entry in the logbook that a huge hellfire was burning in the Orotava Valley. But current historians and geologists have refuted this legend. It turns out that it was not Teide that erupted that year, but another volcano - Boca Gangrejo. The fact is that the cone of the fire-breathing mountain occupies most of the island. But on its slopes, magma broke out in other places. And each time small volcanoes formed. They all have names.

Is Mount Teide dangerous today?

Locals have always been afraid of this mountain. According to their beliefs, the evil demon Guayota lives inside her. They advise against disturbing him. There is a legend that once this demon stole the sun, and his children stole livestock from people and ruined crops, taking advantage of the darkness. Then the deity Achaman imprisoned the spirit in the depths of the volcano, and when he wakes up, he tries to annoy someone. Indeed, sometimes eruptions follow year after year, destroying everything around. Especially people suffered from them in the eighteenth century. In 1706, an eruption destroyed the local port and town of Garachico on the slopes of the mountain. But since 1798, the volcano no longer raged. Now he is sleeping andIts petrified lava is used by the inhabitants of the islands to make various handicrafts and souvenirs and sell them to tourists.

How to get there

The volcano can be reached by car, and several routes. But if you got to Tenerife without a car or don't know how to drive, don't despair. You can get to the crater lift by public transport. This is bus number 342. It leaves for the lower station of the Teide cable car around 9 am and arrives at the place two hours later. After all, you have to go along the serpentine. He drives back at about half past three. Therefore, you should not be late. This is the only bus and there are no other flights.

Cable car

As we have already said, you can get to the very crater of the Teide volcano by highway. It is laid up to a height of 2300 meters. Further down is the lower station of the cable car. It was built in 1971 specifically for tourists. The funicular to the Teide volcano consists of wagons. Each of them is designed for 45 passengers. In a matter of minutes, the funicular lifts the trailer to a height of almost 1200 meters. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 27 euros. The height difference is very large, so people with pressure problems need to take this into account. But this is not the very top. You can only go further on foot. But the remaining 160 meters of elevation are not available to everyone. In order to get to the very top, you need to get a special pass. It must be ordered in advance. By the way, in winter the Canary Islands experience strong winds. Because of this, the funicular may not work. Therefore, tourists advise those who arrive onTenerife in winter, call the cable car and ask if it's open. It is better to buy tickets online. Then they will be marked with the pickup time, and you will not have to wait in a long line.

Tourist value

Of course, there are a lot of attractions in the Canary Islands. Stunning water parks and botanical gardens, black sand beaches and ocean fishing. But all this pales in comparison to the Teide volcano. Being in Tenerife and not visiting it is like not seeing the pyramids in Egypt and the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Not without reason, many participants of the famous round-the-world expeditions were drawn to this mountain. But since there was no cable car then, the way to the top took several days. Both Captain Cook and Charles Darwin were on the volcano. The famous naturalist Alexander Humboldt climbed to its top in thirty hours. But when tourists appeared who began to pay money for spectacles, then the locals began to adapt to their needs. By the way, the volcano itself is depicted on the coat of arms of Tenerife, and its name is modern. Before the Spanish colonization, it was called Echeide.

Visit the crater

If you want to get into the heart of the Teide volcano (Tenerife), you need to request a special permit. It is issued free of charge. You just need to make an application on the website of the national parks of Spain, and then print the answer. When visiting the crater, you must also have either the original passport or a photocopy with your photo. At the beginning of the trail isa caretaker who checks for all these documents. It's not far to go, but the air at the top is rarefied, and it can be very difficult for beginners. Therefore, try to walk slowly, make stops and catch your breath. It is always cool at the top, and tourists are advised to take warm clothes with them. And in winter, the mercury column can drop to minus five Celsius.

Caldera

This is one of the most interesting places of the Teide volcano (Tenerife), although not so well known to tourists. But fans of science fiction films will recognize him immediately. We are talking about the caldera, that is, the "cauldron" of the volcano. We have already said that Teide is, as it were, two-story. It is located inside an older crater. This is called the caldera. Basically, it was preserved in the south of the volcano. Its area is about 16 kilometers. It surrounds the Teide peak, representing an absolutely fantastic landscape. These are whole frozen lava flows, rocks with bizarre shapes. In a word, those who walk here have the impression that they are either in the prehistoric era, or on another planet. Many fantastic films and blockbusters have indeed been filmed here - from One Million Years BC in the 1960s to Clash of the Titans. You can walk along the caldera everywhere - neither snakes nor dangerous animals are found there. It is especially beautiful here in the spring, when lifeless lava is covered with bright colors. Tourists also like to come to the caldera in August. Then the Earth passes through the meteorite belt and the "starfall" begins. Spaniards romanticallycall this phenomenon "tears of Saint Lorenzo". It is especially beautiful to contemplate on the caldera.

Tours

From the height of the Teide volcano you can see almost all of the Canary Islands. At the top station of the cable car, amazing photos are obtained, especially in clear weather, without clouds. But travelers are alive not only with one cable car. Tours and hiking trails are organized to the national park and the caldera. Especially popular with tourists is the so-called Lunar landscape at the foot of the volcano. There are several viewpoints here, as well as the beautiful rocks of Roque de Garcia. Excursions to the Teide Volcano require compliance with several strict rules that are necessary for visitors to national parks. Here, not only is it forbidden to burn fires and pick flowers, but also to collect and take stones with you. Do not wonder! For many decades, tourists have been grabbing pieces of volcanic rock. So soon there will be nothing left of the mountain if everything is left to chance. And for those who are thirsty for barbecues with a panoramic view, before reaching the park, there are special barbecue areas where you can organize picnics. By the way, the slopes of the volcano are overgrown with the only pine tree in the world, the wood of which does not burn. Not far from the rocks of Roque de Garcia is the Hotel Parador with a good restaurant.

Teide Volcano reviews

Tourists who have visited Tenerife write that it is better not to go to the top immediately, but first to acclimatize on the island, to get acquainted with the surroundings. Teide should be saved for later. And manyIt is advised to explore the volcano in two stages. At first, it is better to walk along the caldera, see the fantastic rocks, lava rivers and phoenix pines. And then proceed to the ascent on the funicular. Of course, do not forget warm clothes, check the weather forecast in advance and purchase tickets online. It is better to buy them in a month. You can only take the funicular up and go down on foot. There are different trails - both for trekking and simple ones. But all your efforts will be rewarded. After all, you will not see such a unique, Martian beauty anywhere else. There will be clouds under you, and the whole world at your feet.