Tenerife information Tenerife facts big and small.Tenerife Information Tenerife is, indeed, on whatever facts we want to know about the island.
Coat of arms and emblems:Tenerife symbols, emblems and coat of arms as well as a list of Tenerife towns... Photo beside shows a festive symbol or Tenerife emblem displayed on holidays by La Orotava town hall.. It is not mount Teide but, Tenerife's famous Drago tree, which isn't even a tree by biological standards. It belongs to the family of onions. The Cabildo Tenerife has applied for inclusion of the Drago together with the Tenerife Carnival to its World Heritage symbols of Cañadas del Teide and La Laguna. This Tenerife information Tenerife represents a people who is proud of its patrimonio which also means heritage, while it loves to celebrate nature as part of it as well.
The Provinces Tenerife and Gran Canaria:It is a little confusing that the four Canary Islands of La Gomera, La Palma, el Hierro, as well as its biggest Canary lsland make up the autonomous province of Tenerife. Even small rocks which are nearby in the water count as part of the isles, such as the prominent, but tiny Chico rock of Garachico. This was written down in the year 1833 in mainland Spain to which 49 provinces belonged at the time. Tenerife information Tenerife on history of its capital:Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was declared the 2nd Tenerife capital and province in 1927 with Fuerte Ventura and Lanzarote being a part as well as a few minor isles where La Graciosa is the most heard about. While Las Palmas is the biggest city as far as population of the Canaries is concerned, it is also the most impressive Canary town.
Basic geographic Tenerife facts:Location:Tenerife is situated at 28°19 N and, 16°34 W, about 90 nautical miles from closest point Morocco on the west of the African Continent of biggest wildlife. The latitude is the same as Miami in Florida USA. 1500 km by air Tenerife to mainland Spain depending on airport locations is also a relatively short distance. Tenerife is close to the warm Atlantic golf stream which comes down from UK.Tenerife information Tenerife about its age:Some parts of Tenerife are 60 million years old but consisted originally of 3 sections. Those are part of todays total island and are the Anaga mountains, the Teno Massif with Teno Alto (high Teno) and Teno Bajo(low or rural Teno) as well as today's region of Adeje. Guimar as well as the Orotava and the Tacoronte valleys, for example were formed roughly half a million years ago by volcanic eruptions which joined the initial isles. Now, Tenerife is often mentioned as one of Macronesian isles of the Atlantic ocean which are quite likely to have been part of the legendary Atlantis. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, the Phoenicians as well as others had reason to believe so.Provincial size of Tenerife:The Islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera as well as Tenerife make up Santa Cruz de Tenerife province.
Nature of Island:Biggest Canary island out of sisterhood of 7 official autonomous isles where all are of volcanic origin born in the tertiary period. Tenerife information Tenerife seems to forget Isla Graciosa, its 8th isle, although it exists. Tenerife owns 141 nature reserves together with the rest of the Canary Islands. The Cañadas del Teide belong to world heritage and are its biggest reserve. You find 1.386 indigenous plants on Tenerife, out of which 546 are only growing ideally there. You are bound to find all superbly illustrated at the museum Museo del hombre y de la Naturaleza which translates as Tenerife Museum of Man and Nature.
Typical geographic Tenerife conditions:Charcos or natural pools by the island's coast as well as its barrancos which occasionally turn into dangerous rivers and may pose environmental problems are typical for Tenerife's character besides its volcanoes.Size of Tenerife:Tenerife information Tenerife on its size gives us 2040 m2 (785 square miles). After protected and, farmland only 500 square km remain to build up and for recreation. 83km long with the widest parts of about 50 km in the north which is partly separated by Teno mountain range.Coastline: 358 km out of which 67.14 km are sand and gravel beaches. Most sand beaches are black. Tenerife information Tenerife may include the peculiar remark of somebody who once said, that one could easily drive around the island on a bicycle if there wasn't a short connection road for it missing in the south. Island form: Tenerife information Tenerife history:Discover the island's history, the important parts of which were the history Tenerife Santa Cruz by its capital.Climate and temperatures:Tenerife information Tenerife on it's climate must be what most people know somehow.However, few are aware of all its secrets. More about them in climate in Tenerife. The Canary Islands weather, with more facts than the following, is unique. Most of you have heard, the average temperature is 17C-24C, due also to the Atlantic all around that fans it. Its closeness to tropic of cancer and the golf stream counts. Elysian winds from direction of Island Madeira also contribute to the island's steady, pleasant weather. Timezone:Tenerife's time zone is GMT which is the same as UK London's while sharing same longitude (meridian).
Social aspects of largest Canary Island:Inhabitants:Facts on Tenerife information Tenerife are that a mixture of 1 million 200000 inhabitants made up by Europeans as well as Scandinavians, South Americans, Asians and Africans live on the island. This was published by the German Media of Tenerife in 2009.Learn about racism in Tenerife... Language: The British community counts more than 45000 people most of which live in southern Tenerife with the town Arona of Adeje counting most of the wealthiest people on the island. British Consulate Tenerife:Find all official government information on the British Consulate Santa Cruz de Tenerife including its address here...
There is a fairly large Indian trader community in the north of the island but, mainly in Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. Tenerife Indians are no new-comers. They all speak Spanish and/or English. Tenerife information Tenerife for folks from the UK is therefore, excellent in this respect. They will not only find real estate agents but, also, accountants and, solicitors, doctors and health services where English is spoken. Doctors:Tenerife information Tenerife for doctors who speak English or have according personal: Dr.Irina Gurvich Tamaragua Hospital for instance, was employing a multi lingual interpreter for the south, a year or so ago. Full time employment meant how serious they were about it. Some clinics also employ English speaking staff. Demands are high in this respect as I have been told by several people who work or, have worked for the health services. Perfect Spanish knowledge is always a priority. It's tough work, indeed. But it does not only help the tourist on vacation. Tenerife information Tenerife on shared European systems:The Tenerife health care shares a communal system with the rest of the European Union. This means that the European blue health care card entitles everybody who has one to use the Canary Islands governmental health care institutions and accordingly cost reduced medicines. Unemployments support of some sort:Registered unemployment in European countries is transferrable and entitles to financial support in Tenerife when papers have been transferred in time. Religion:Main religion is Roman Catholic while some others with their own churches exist. See: Taoro Park as well as Puerto de la Cruz.A lady called Pope (nickname) told me a few years ago about a Buddhist congregation leaving for Canadas del Teide every Sunday at 10 a.m. at Puerto de la Cruz bus station. I have not seen a mosk in Tenerife nor Muslims dressed according to religion.
Tenerife information Tenerife about its constitution:Autonomous with Cabildo insular Tenerife government while democratic with socialist strong tendencies by 2008. Please, consult Tenerife information Tenerife of capital Santa Cruz.Prime Minister: José Luis Rodriguez Sapatero (José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero). Canary Islands President Paulino Rivero, president for all islands including Tenerife Tenerife information Tenerife on Crime rate:Low, but one cannot leave house entrance doors open and should not leave a camera or cellular phone visible in cars. Best is to never leave valuable in cars.Tenerife Information Tenerife reports that the Public Police Force 'La Guardia Civil' is relatively sharp and strict. Having to go to prison in Tenerife is also said to be no fun, where no televisions are in cells. To get a stolen car off the island, for instance, would be a problem. However, there is danger of Tenerife property fraud like everywhere in Spain if buying of property is taken, too lightly. Tenerife information Tenerife EmergenciesGeneral Emergency call numbersThere is only one Tel. Number for all of the Canary Islands Police assistance only: Tel: 092 Ambulance help, Police help as well as Firefighting help (bomberos): Tel: 112 Mind that foreigners which have private medical insurance only must pay themselves, when calling those numbers for medical service. They must rather find out the relevant telephone number which represents their insurance on the island. Anti smoking laws Tenerife:Please mind Spanish anti smoking regulations above all in hotels, all eating establishments, education buildings and many other public installations as per new environmental policy of Tenerife and Spain...
Communication and energy:Tenerife information Tenerife on telephone, water and electricity supplyTenerife information Tenerife about telecommunication:Only, the company from mainland Spain called Telefonica S.A.supplies telephone for landlines.Cellular telephone suppliers are numerous. Various ADSL broad band providers exist. More and more Wi Fi services appear on the island as well as on other isles which are part of the province. When Telefonica has a break down no ADSL connection will work which, however, happens seldom. Also a so called NAP center for a total network of submarine cables will carry Tenerife information Tenerife from Granadilla to Europe South America and further, such as New York. Local Internet is expected to profit greatly while an award has already been granted. How remarkable to get it for goodwill and vision for environmental progress...
Water supplyInsider Tenerife information Tenerife tells the unusual fact that the largest of all Canary Islands receives its water from rains as well as from much moisture caught by the clouds in the forests by pines whose timber line starts already at 2000 -2100 meters which is not normal for a subtropical island. Source confirmed: jstor.org. Please note that Tenerife tap water is not considered fit for human consumption, unless boiled first...
Electricity: Voltage 22 V. Find adaptors for UK gadgets at hardware stores called Ferretarias. A must is to protect your IT equipment by power failure. Wind mill electricity is generated near Reina Sofia airport. Some households may use gas as energy for sanitary and kitchen while very modern buildings seldom have this facility. Gas is being supplied by private companies. You phone them and hang a flag by your street window.
Commerce and Trade: Tenerife information Tenerife on commerce: Monetary unit: EuroSeveral banks including foreign bank like Barclays, ING and Deutsche Bank are to be found besides all Spanish Banks as well as Savings institutions called Cajas like Caja Canaria.
Trade Unions also exist in Tenerife. Trade and business:Tenerife information Tenerife must stress the island's strong ties with mainland Spain although it is also importing much from India and other Asian countries. Almost all modern cars are available but, not assembled in Tenerife. Why? Labour in Tenerife is cheaper than in mainland Spain but, not cheap enough to compete with new upcoming markets.Interesting for business is its free port. Export: Bananas are the biggest export commodity of Tenerife since about 1890. 150 000 bananas called platanos in Spanish are harvested every year and 30 000 are consumed locally. Subsidies:Bananas and Tomatoes are subsidized.I knew somebody who had been promised a subsidy for trout farming. It would have been viable if he had found a suitable location for sale. There are no rivers, unless a barranco gorge becomes one after heavy rain, which is natural. No inland lakes exist on the island but, several springs. Often, Canary Islands farmers receive aids from the European community in other fields because of their special status. For how long, we don't know.
Agriculture, fisheries,granaries, animals for food, wine:Tenerife information Tenerife has shifted much in the field of home grown stuff. Wine was once a major commodity overseas, which finds it hard to compete with emerging world markets, noweadays. However a good red wine like Tajinaste is even sold in New York. Tenerife has its own fish, poultry, and general country products with an abundance of subtropical fruit where however no rice is grown and few cattle is kept but, many goats for goat cheese production. Wine is cultivated around Icod de los Vinos, Los Realejos, La Orotava, Tacoronte and El Sauzal where you also find a wine museum.Everything from the humble onion to the papaya, lemon, orange avocado pear and even almonds grow on the island. The small local potato called Bonita costs often EU 7, 20/kg by year 2011 (almost 7 times the price of the cheapest potato) but, it's delicious. If it's not yellowish inside it's not a Bonita. Not all herbs are grown here, though. Why? Perhaps, some need frost. Despite so much which is grown in Tenerife, food imported by April 2008 statistics is higher than 90% as per Henry Cicilia, president of the island's association for agriculture called ASAGA. This also means that one finds just about every European product in Tenerife. It will mean price peaks in the long run if the shopper disregards the local markets and products while international fuel and transport are rising. Information Tenerife on Tenerife turning 'Green'Many government workshops take place to discuss a more environment friendly island. Lately end of 2009, households were encouraged to make their own compost. Help and equipment is provided for whoever is interested. Ask at your local municipality...Indeed, environmental awareness is not only becoming a household word in Puerto de la Cruz but, also in university science circles at astro physics studies in La Laguna.
Industry: Tenerife information Tenerife on a remarkable local enterprise:Tetex Canarias Textile and fashion producer and exporter
Transport:2 Tenerife airports for passenger transport Los Rodeos (TFN in North) and Reina Sofia (TFS in South) while all cheap flights are done by subcontracting charter airlines with flights twice in one week many of which fly for BA or Iberia airlines when coming from UK. All Tenerife as well as all Spanish airports are under management of www.aena.es. There are no airport taxes in Tenerife.Local public Titsa buses (mainly Scania buses) and trams where the latter were introduced again in 2004 with the first route from the capital to Los Rodeos airport which are about 15 km. Tenerife also has an abundance of coach buses for tourism only which are mainly operated from hotels. You can see them at times transporting only 2 tourists. A waste of diesel... Tenerife information Tenerife main transport motorways:TF1 is the Southern Freeway between the capital Santa Cruz and the South of Tenerife along the East Coast as far as the town Adeje. 6 lanes will be ready from early 2010 onwards until Guimar. Less tracks with minor roads follow suite. The TF5 Northern Freeway connects the capital with major towns on the Tenerife West Coast up to about San Juan de la Rambla. Later, coastal or mountain roads take its place. The highlands with the Cañadas del Teide have their own road system. It is well maintained and organized but, does not allow fast driving like freeways.Vehicle driving in Tenerife:while please mind goat herds in rural areas... which are super light vehicles, made with a fibre glass bodies, like professional surf boards. However you must hold a license for driving a small motor bike called Mofa in Spain. Seek confirmation at car dealers or driving schools, in case the Tenerife traffic law has changed... Architecture and tourism:Discover modern architecture with sky scrapers in the capital and by tourist resorts from super modern like the auditorio Tenerife to rural, 19th/20th century styles as well as Canary style, besides all sorts of typical Tenerife Spanish architecture and even precolonial pyramids. Tenerife information Tenerife Tourism:Tourism is well organized with many British and German connections. Tenerife has its own schools for hotel and tourism in Santa Cruz and other parts of the island. Tourism information is excellent. Here are all Canary Island tourist/tourism offices listed. Hear about the overwhelming tourist attendance of February 2011 at La Villa Alcampo which makes it a proper attraction for tourism...
Also, ONLY LOCAL Calls for 'INFOTOURISM' Tel: O2088196940 Locally, Tenerife tours on land as well as by sea From Los Gigantes you can go whale watching leaving for day trips from there or, from Puerto Colon. Education:Tenerife information Tenerife schoolingNursery schools are private and children may be admitted at preschools from age 3 years onwards. Spanish Primary and High schools (institutos) are public.Subsidies for school text books may be applied for in special cases.
Foreign schools and university:Tenerife information Tenerife on British schools:
38400 Puerto de la Cruz, North Tenerife Taoro Park, Street Calle Irlanda Tel: 0034 + 922 384685 Fax: 0034 + 922 373565 Web: www.yeowardschool.org/ 38410 Los Realejos Camino Montijo, 16, (Loc. La Carrera) Tel: 0034 + 922-345 450 Fax: 0034 + 922-354 929 web: www.trinity-school.es A German school called Colegio Aleman is in Puerto de la Cruz off Carretera Las Arenas where sign post indicates way.
Arona of Costa de Adeje Cabo Blanco, Tel: 0034 + 922 720102 Fax: 0034 + 922 720102 www.wingateschool.com/ Tenerife secundary school news:I have met a young UK lady who took on a job as teacher assistant in Cruz Santa Los Realejos in 2010. It is part of a new government policy to teach more English to the youth.
The French Alliance Francaise is in Santa Cruz. Official Swedish College Arona Tenerife Main university: La Laguna by Santa Cruz. More about university in page Santa Cruz but has also a long distance university department in Los Realejos. Get some idea of the size of Los Realejos by mapped photos here... Please note: The town of La Orotava will have its own super modern university with 5800 m2 built up space. The architect Xavier Diaz and Mayor Izaak Valencia envision it to be for 3000 students in 12 lecture halls. A PC center for online studies and library, assembly hall etc. will not be amiss. Works budgeted with €5 million sound far too little. Especially, as solar power energy for this university is not cheap to build in. The foundation stones may be put as early as 2011, may be.
Several institutions funded by Brussels help the unemployed gain new skills be it in languages, IT or in practical chores.There is even a European agreement for unemployment fund channeling which stretches as high as Denmark. I know because I helped some young people in all aspects with this. INEM is the name for the relevant unemployment offices on the island. Financial unemployment funds for foreigners are paid by a special Banco de Bilbao bank branch in the capital. I have documents to prove this.
Insight about main sport Tenerife soccerCD Tenerife national team a page with amazing facts.
Taxes:Tenerife information Tenerife on taxes for property:Lower than in UK for buying property as well as interesting new law Spain 2008 to avoid or cut down inheritance tax by donations. IGIC is sort of a value added tax which does not exist that low as 5% in the rest of Spain. Tax heaven
Other observations that are facts:The island's small size and a fairly large population of about 10 Million tourists per year have Tenerife exposed to pollution. Many tall sky rise hotels in and around tourist resorts don't help. Much trash is generated by a society which uses plastic packaging for almost everything. The island's shores are vulnerable. In some isolated cases, sewage that shouldn't enter the ocean finds its way there. Government is taking steps to stop it. At least, more new electric tram routes will help against traffic jams. Unnecessary building constructions must stop. Much water is gobbled up by golf courses. More electricity is needed, although one seems to have some success with windmill energy generating in the south.A building opposite where I live uses solar power. Tenerife information Tenerife on Economic interest in real estate:
Please, return from Tenerife information Tenerife to main page Tenerife where you will also see why the island is good for a holiday home.
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