Haria

Haria is a Canarian municipality belonging to the province of Las Palmas. Situated in the north of the island.

Since pre-Hispanic times the town of Haria has seen many settlements scattered throughout the municipality.  Habitats are well dispersed with structures such as the recently developed Tinache or in natural caves (Malpais de La Corona) related to pastoral activity and shellfish.

Fruit of the settlements in the area of Malpais de La Corona include the creation of cheese Bravo, a radial structure in the form of cheese carved into volcanic rock, unique in the archipelago and which still has an unknown value and meaning.

The valley was known by the Aboriginal name Faria, so this could be a name derived from the Aboriginal word meaning Chafariz fountain or spring water.   After the conquest in 1492 by Juan de Bethencourt and Gadifer Salle there was still a settlement by the climatic and geographical particularities of the area, making it one of the most fertile on the island.

The raids continued during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the years of drought resulted in large fluctuations in the population of the municipality, but it remains the second most populated village of the island after Teguise.

One of the most nefarious pirate raids for the town was held by the Algerian Arraez Morato, when in command of 600 men they attacked on August 1^st 1586, the village of Haria, they stole their supply of poultry, goats and vegetables, then burned the crops and palm.

The Cave of the Greens played a key role in the defense of the island population to the continuous pirate attacks suffered by the island before and after the conquest.

1585 benefited from grants. At this time Haria was the only village that was granted this privilege because of the remoteness of Teguise and the high number of neighbors making it necessary that they have religious services.

In 1812 by decree, the administration was divided into island municipalities. From 1835 it was configured on the municipal map of Lanzarote and would form part of the eight municipalities created at the time.

The tourist development of the 70/80 years has led to changes in the economy. The most fertile areas of the municipality are the plains and the valley of Maguez Haria.   In these places they are planting potatoes, beans, cereals, vegetables etc.  The livestock was provided by the existence of cattle and goats, which are often found in the area of the Malpais de La Corona and below the cliff, with its seasonal moving.

The capital moved in 1852 to Arrecife Haria and relegates people to a lower category.

The economy of the island was always subject to fluctuations in the international market. In the eighteenth century they exploited Barrilla, Arrieta and Orzola, but in the nineteenth century soda blasting was artificially produced.

Drought and the importation of cheaper foreign grain and flour caused the collapse of the municipal market which resulted in the Diaspora towards Cuba, Venezuela and Uruguay.   At the end of the century, the emergence of artificial colors again caused migration of the neighboring municipality of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Cuba and Venezuela.

The township is located north of the island and occupies 107km. Most of its boundary, namely 42km, is occupied by a coastal zone where the shore is softer allowing the formation of beaches.  Its area is 6km ² of which 30% is a protected natural area.

The council is currently consists of ten villages, Haria, Maguez, Guinate, Ye, Orzola, Punta Mujeres, Arrieta, Tabayesco, Mala and Charco del Palo and has a population of 4,500 inhabitants.

In 1900 the municipality had a population of 3101.  In 1979 due to economic factors, population rates descended from a population of 2897 in fact and law of 2899 people. Currently the town has a population census of 5049 people (INE, 2007).

Crafts

The palm provides the raw material needed to carry out the baskets, as well as the work of Palm (mats, brooms, hats, braided palmito, empleitas for cheese, bags etc.)  In Maguez at the beginning of the twentieth century, they developed the craft of Atilla, which still remains today. The Atilla is extracted from the piter.

Festivals

The holidays are the most prominent in San Juan and are the pattern for the township. They mark the beginning of summer.  It is traditional to celebrate the conclusion of a big fire.  This event is linked with certain rites proper to the pre-Hispanic culture-related collection of harvest.  Other highlights are the Carnival celebrations in Haria, Santa Barbara and Pine Maguez in Punta Mujeres.