La Gomera Island, Canary Islands, Spain (November 2011)

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The Canary archipelago is located off the southern coast of Morocco and consists of 7 main islands and some smaller islands and islets, all volcanic in origin. La Gomera is the second smallest of the 7 main islands. It lies ~35km west of the largest one, Tenerife. It is roughly circular in shape with a diameter of ~23km and rises up to 1487m at Garajonay Peak. Deep ravines called ″barrancos″ split the island into sectors like a pie chart. Many day walks are possible along trails that often lie in rugged, heavily eroded terrain. The only town is San Sebastian de La Gomera. In 2004 the total population of the island was ~22,000 and that of San Sebastian was ~8,000.

 

The island was the last stop of Christopher Columbus before crossing the Atlantic in 1492.

 

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(Unfortunately, on this trip I had a terrible camera.)

 

View over San Sebastian de La Gomera, with Pico del Teide on Tenerife Island in the background. At 3718m El Teide is the highest point in Spain.

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Another view of El Teide from the center of La Gomera.

 

Playa de La Guancha.

 

Barranco de La Guancha.

 

Barranco del Cabrito.

 

Barranco Valle Gran Rey, seen from the top and the bottom.

 

Roque de Agando (1251m).

 

Scenery near Vallehermoso.

 

Valle de Hermingua.

 

Barrancos on the east side of La Gomera, north of San Sebastian.

 

 

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