CANARY ISLANDS, or CANARIES, a cluster of islands in the Atlantic, politically forming a province and military district of Spain, but geographically considered as belong ing to Africa, the most easterly being about 150 miles from Cape Nun. They are 13 in number, 7 of Which are of considerable size, namely, Palma, Hierro, Gomera, Teneriffe, Grand Canary (Gran Canaria), Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The other six are little more than mere rocks. The population numbers about 526,400, the area being about 3,216 square miles. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura lie in the north east of the group. Hierro is the farthest south west. Through Hierro the first meridian used to be drawn. All are rugged and mountainous, frequently presenting deep ravines and precipi tous cliffs to the sea, though having also fertile valleys and verdant slopes. The principal peaks are those of Teneriffe, 12,182 feet, and La Cruz, in Palma, 7,730 feet. Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which are nearest the African coast, are less elevated than the others, and have more strongly marked African characteristics. Evi dence of volcanic action is almost everywhere present, and volcanic disturbances have taken place on some of the islands in quite modern times. The flora of the central and western islands generally resembles that of the Mediter ranean region, the trees and shrubs including the oak, chestnut, pine, cedar, laurel, heather, etc.; but there are (particularly on the eastern islands) plants that belong to the African region, such as the dragon-tree and euphorbias. Among the fauna may be mentioned the canary, the red partridge, and several kinds of lizards; there are no snakes. Goats and camels are the chief domestic animals. The islands are deficient in moisture and severe droughts sometimes occur ; tornadoes also are not infrequent. The climate is hot on the low grounds, temperate higher up, and generally healthy. The soil where suited for cultivation readily produces all kinds of grain, fruits and vegetables in abundance, three and even four crops being raised yearly; some of the islands furnish good wine, especially Teneriffe and Palma. The Canaries constitute a valuable possession of Spain and they serve as a winter resort for invalids from colder regions. This has led to the erection of hotels specially intended for visitors, to the making or improvements of roads and to the providing of attractions of various kinds, including golf courses, lawn-tennis 'grounds, etc. There are several places of worship for English-speaking visitors. The exports at present consist chiefly of bananas, tomatoes, onions and potatoes, shipped in great quantities to London and Liver pool, cochineal, sugar, wine, etc. The imports
chiefly consist of textiles and other manufac tured goods, cereals, coals, etc. Peaches, oranges, lemons, figs and other fruits are culti vated. Teneriffe and Grand Canary are the two chief islands. Santa Cruz, the capital of the islands, is a port on the northeast coast of the former, and on the western coast of the same island is Orotava, a favorite resort of for eign visitors. Las Palmas, on the northeast coast of Grand Canary, is a more important place, with its new harbor, Puerto de la Luz, between three and four miles distant, protected by a breakwater. The city is rapidly extending, its streets have been improved and lighted by electricity. In 1917 it had about 43,000 inhabit ants. Numerous steamers engaged in the trade between Europe and Africa call here, and also at Santa Cruz. Wireless telegraphic stations, one of 860 miles range, carry out the service with Spain and another of 250 miles range the service with ship and shore traffic.
Historical Outlines.—The half-fabulous °Fortunate Isles," as the Canary Islands were called in the classical ages, were undoubtedly known to the Semitic merchant-adventurers from the south-southeast Mediterranean coasts (including the Carthaginians) long before the Roman conquests extended to Spain. But it is possible that, as Mr. Royale Tyler suggests, the Carthaginians may have kept the secret of their whereabouts for fear that others might share with them such advantages as the astute traders of those days were anxious to keep to them selves. Contact with the outside world appears to have been interrupted for centuries. Finally, the Arabs the Canaries in the 13th century; the Portuguese and Majorcans visited them in the 14th; and in the early years of the 15th a Norman adventurer, Jean de &then court, established himself at Fuerteventura and founded his capital in a village that still exists under the name of Betancuria (more correctly, Bethencuria), on the western side of that island. The King of Castile was his protector, and toward the end of the 15th century Ferdinand and Isabella took possession of the islands. At that time the Canaries were in habited by people of different races, some of whom were Semites, as we have said; but the bulk of the population was formed by a people called the Guanches who had been in possession of the islands for ages. The blood of the Guanches still flows in the veins of many of the inhabitants; and even to-day, in Gomera and Teneriffe especially, the old race appears to have maintained itself almost without admix ture.