Lanzarote is the most easterly link in the Canary Islands chain. And is located around seventy miles off the west coast of Africa – relatively close to what was once, many years ago, the enclave of the Spanish Sahara.
And as you’d expect from an island that is located in such close proximity to the continent of Africa and the Sahara desert, Lanzarote enjoys very little rainfall – with a total precipitation averaging out at just 11 centimetres a year. Whilst temperatures on the island stay at a minimum of 20 Celsius all year round. Climatic factors that combine to make Lanzarote an ideal holiday destination.
As a result of these favourable conditions Lanzarote is hugely popular with tourists from Northern Europe. And the UK is the islands number one market – with around 800,000 British tourists arriving on flights to Lanzarote during the course of 2007. Bolstered by a further 200,000 plus visitors from the Republic of Ireland. Who visit Lanzarote more than any other destination in the whole of Spain.
Lanzarote was once thought to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis. Phoenician traders dubbed it the Purple Island – as a lichen called Orchilla was once grown here, which was used as the basis for a purple dyestuff. In the Middle Ages Lanzarote was referred to as one of the Fortunate Islands – thanks to the spring like year round climate.
Today Lanzarote is best known as the Island of Fire though. Thanks to the fact that around one quarter of the land here was submerged by a sea of molten lava, as Lanzarote was subjected to a terrifying six year long volcanic eruption. Which started in 1730. Driving many islanders to flee and seek new lives abroad.
Ironically the Fire Mountains of the Timanfaya National Park are today Lanzarote´s number one attraction. Drawing around one million visitors every year. Who are enthralled by the eerie moon like appearance of the terrain. Other key attractions include the Jameos del Agua and the Mirador del Rio. Tourist sites which were developed by the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique.
Thanks to Manrique Lanzarote has a lot more to offer tourists than just water parks and golf courses alone – as is so often the case in other Spanish sunspots. And allied with great year round weather these factors have helped to encourage many visitors to invest in the Lanzarote property market. Enabling them to rent their villa or apartment out to tourists or enjoy it for their own holidays.
For great deals on Lanzarote hotels and Lanzarote property for sale visit the Lanzarote tourist information website.
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