The island as it is today was formed three million years ago by the fusion of three islands made up of the mountain ranges of Anaga, Teno and Valle de San Lorenzo, due to volcanic activity from Teide.
27. marca 1977 sta v spremenljivem vremenu in megli osrednjega masiva na severnem letališču Los Rodeos (takrat še brez zemeljskega radarja) trčili dve letali Boeing 747.