National Park Timanfaya

It was declared a National Park on August 9th 1974.  It occupies an area of 51.07 sq km southwest of the island.  It is a volcanic park. Recent eruptions occurred in the eighteenth century, between the years 1730 and 1736.

It has more than 25 volcanoes, and some of the landmarks, such as the Mountain of Fire, or Mountain Rajada Corazoncillo Caldera. There is still volcanic activity, there are points on the surface of heat reaching 100-120°C and 600°C to 13 meters deep.

This volcanic habitat is in the early stages of ecological succession (altogether there are about 180 plant species), making it an excellent place to study the processes of colonization and succession.  In 1993, UNESCO awarded him the status of Biosphere Reserve throughout the island. It is also a Special Protection Area for Birds (1994).

“On September 1^st 1730, between nine and ten at night, the land was opened in Timanfaya, two leagues from Yaiza and a huge mountain arose from within the earth,” according to the testimony of Priest Lorenzo Curbelo. The island was transformed completely. Nine people were buried (Tingafa, White Mountain, Maretas, Santa Catalina, purse line, San Juan, Pena lead Testeina and Rodeos) and for six years the lava spread to cover the southern quarter of the island and filling nearby las vegas with volcanic ash.

In 1824 the Timanfaya eruptions began again. There was terrible famine and many people were forced to emigrate.  Since then the landscape has been transformed through agricultural cultivation techniques on the volcanic lapillis Conejeros by capturing moisture from the trade winds.