Geology of Playa el Medano beach, a wonder of volcanology.

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I found the sight of it utterly unusual, beautiful and fascinating.

Those generally rather light rocks are pyroclastic and are mainly pumice in this case. They also contain a bit of harder rock material with some minerals. This is typical for pyroclastic rocks. The color of those slabs match the almost golden beach sand.

The combined shades of yellow set off the deep blue of ocean, sky and often orange colored beach wear by people in a magic way.

Classic geology which comes to mind

The color composition almost matches the classic pictures of a subtle yellow which is also typical for the geology of old Egypt, of Mesopotamia, of Jerusalem, of Petra, some places in Greece and of Northern Africa, while not all there is of volcanic origin.

Plenty of sandy seashore is left to warrant that el Medano has the longuest Tenerife natural sand beach with its 2 km.

By the way, this is all that is generally emphasized by tourist pamphlets, posters and normal homepages on El Medano, except for the windsurfing.

This is not good enough in my mind. There, the location's most extraordinary geology usually seems to be carelessly brushed off the media or writer desk. You have to have been to El Madano and must have felt its unique geology to appreciate it.

No dunes with their ondulating sands and particular vegetation are anywhere nearby.

Also notice that this rocky formation is not everywhere by the five Medano beaches of the town's main seashore. However sometimes, the pleasant looking, large pumicy surfaces leave little space for soft ground to walk on between the edge of the ocean.

Secret sunbathing spots

These flat rocky outcrops offer nooks for hiding or for more privacy for the sunbathers in some rare spots. They create a very few miniature beaches. Some have hollowed out crevices underneath which may have been shaped by the power of
incoming ocean waves. The Atlantic is expected to cause more changes to the geology of this Medano beach from May to October.

Windsurf championships

Montana Roja is a stratovolcano the cone of which consists of lava and big parts of reddish pyroclastic rocks.

Geological puzzles?

Scientific environmental importance of El Medano geology

Montaña Pelada or Montaña Checada

Midlatlantic plates

I have seen a drastically shifted shoreline after a Portugal earthquake in the Algarve, 51 years ago.

Conclusion for a bigger picture

Tenerife is no ordinary island because of its rich geology. The Teno and El Medano beach front with its mountains confirm it as well, while the Cañadas del Teide and Tenerife's Anaga region set an even bigger note to all of it. Anyway, The biggest of all Canary Islands has a total microcosm and is an extraordinary, geological example of Macaronesia.

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Get el Medano Tenerife information on its village with beaches, shopping, restaurants, hotels, windsurfing, getting around as well on its neighbourhood, such as San Miguel de Abona, San Isidro, Arico and distances for longer trips.

Geologically rare rocks and other natural wonders with rare biology endemic flora which grow on stones which rise out of the ocean in Tenerife North at the Los Realejos border with Puerto de la Cruz.

Different ocean scenery to el Medano.

Back to home with more geological Tenerife information

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