All were similarly formed by volcanic upheavals, creating dramatic mountains and craters and spectacular scenery.
Vegetation is lush and varied.
The indigenous dragon trees, some of them thousands of years old with spindly upturned leaves, is an especially exotic sight. The fertile land yields impressive crops of continental and subtropical fruits and vegetables. Although the Canary Islands are located off the northwest African coast, just west of the Sahara Desert, the islands are cooled by ocean currents and by the trade winds, creating perpetual springtime. The beaches and clear ocean waters are splendid any time of year, making the Canary Islands a popular winter getaway. Before the fifteenth century the Canary Islands were inhabited by an isolated Stone Age people called Los Guanches, who left behind fascinating archeological remains.