{{Short description|Archipelago in the Canary Islands}} {{Infobox islands | name = Chinijo Archipelago | native_name = Archipiélago Chinijo | native_name_link = Spanish language | native_name_lang = Spanish | sobriquet = <!-- or |nickname= --> | image_name = Satellite Lanzarote Chinijo.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza from above | image_alt = | image_map = Mapa Lanzarote Chinijo.png | map_alt = | map_size = | map_caption = Map of Chinijo Archipelago | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|display=it}} --> | etymology = Small archipelago | location = Atlantic Ocean | archipelago = | waterbody = | total_islands = 5 | major_islands = | area_km2 = 40.9 | area_footnotes = <ref name="superficie_islotes">{{cite web |url=http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=24&idItem=1594 |title=Superficie de los islotes de Lanzarote |publisher=Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote |access-date=2019-07-18 |language=es |trans-title=Surface of the islets of Lanzarote }}</ref> | rank = | length_km = <!-- or |length_m= --> | length_footnotes = | width_km = <!-- or |width_m= --> | width_footnotes = | coastline_km = 54.435 | coastline_footnotes = <ref name="costas_islotes">{{cite web |url=http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=24&idItem=1591 |title=Longitud de costa de los islotes de Lanzarote |publisher=Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote |access-date=2019-07-18 |language=es |trans-title=Coastline length of the islets of Lanzarote }}</ref> | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = | country = {{ESP}} | country_admin_divisions_title = Autonomous Community | country_admin_divisions = Canary Islands | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Province | country_admin_divisions_1 = Las Palmas | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Island | country_admin_divisions_2 = Lanzarote | country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Municipality | country_admin_divisions_3 = Teguise | country_capital_type = | country_capital = | country_largest_city_type = settlement | country_largest_city = Caleta de Sebo | country_capital_and_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = 730 | country_leader_title = | country_leader_name = | country_area_km2 = <!-- or |country_area_m2= or |country_area_ha= --> | demonym = | population = 734 | population_as_of = 2018 | population_footnotes = <ref name="pob_teguise">{{cite web |url=http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=6&idItem=8456 |title=Población de derecho de Teguise según unidad poblacional. Evolución (2000-2018) |publisher=Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote |access-date=2019-07-18 |language=es |trans-title=Legal population of Teguise by settlement. Evolution (2000-2018) }}</ref> | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | languages = Spanish, specifically Canarian Spanish | ethnic_groups = | timezone1 = WET |utc_offset1 = ±00:00 |timezone1_DST = WEST |utc_offset1_DST = +01:00 | website = | additional_info = | footnotes = }}
The '''Chinijo Archipelago''' ({{IPA|es|tʃiˈnixo|pron}}) is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands. The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island. The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's reduced dimensions. The Chinijo Archipelago forms part of the national park Parque natural del Archipiélago established in 1986, and is part of a large marine reserve.
== History == The Chinijo Archipelago is primarily of volcanic origin, with its islets formed approximately 10 million years ago by the activity of a corona volcano in northern Lanzarote.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|title=Discover the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park|work=Biosfera Express|url=https://biosferaexpress.com/en/blog/chinijo-natural-park/|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> French explorer Jean de Béthencourt, who explored Lanzarote in the early 1400s, traversed the waters leading to La Graciosa in the Chinijo Archipelago.<ref name="Lazarote">{{cite web|title=La Graciosa - Chinijo|work=Lanzarote|url=https://www.spain-lanzarote.com/en/places/north/graciosa-chinijo.html|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The archipelago was declared as part of Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park in 1986, and forms part of one of the largest marine reserves in Europe.<ref name="Park">{{cite web|title=Chinijo Archipelago La Gracisoa|work=Turismo Lanzarote|url=https://turismolanzarote.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/chinijo_ingles.pdf|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's smaller dimensions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.academiacanarialengua.org/diccionario/buscar/?q=chinijo |title=Chinijo, ja |language=es |publisher=Academia Canaria de la Lengua |access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref>
== Geography == thumb|La Graciosa and other islands of Chinijo Archipelago seen from Lanzarote
Chinijo is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinijo Archipelago|url=http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/naturaleza/espacios-naturales/parque_natural_del_archipielago_chinijo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424142349/http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/naturaleza/espacios-naturales/parque_natural_del_archipielago_chinijo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2014|work=spain.info|access-date=17 March 2014}}</ref> The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island.<ref name="Lazarote"/><ref name="Park"/> The Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park covers a total area {{cvt|91.12|km²|1|abbr=on}}, and includes parts north of the island of Lanzarote. The area of the natural park overlaps with that of a designated marine reserve.<ref name="Bio"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spain.info/en/nature/chinijo-archipelago-natural-park/|title=Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park|work=Spain.com|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Canary Islands|url=http://www.turismodecanarias.com/holidays-canary-islands/canary-islands-facts-figures-introduction/#more-715|publisher=turismodecanarias.com|accessdate=17 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316200132/http://www.turismodecanarias.com/holidays-canary-islands/canary-islands-facts-figures-introduction/#more-715|archive-date=16 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/espaciosnaturales/lanzarote/l2.html |title=Protected Natural Areas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417035548/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/espaciosnaturales/lanzarote/l2.html |archive-date=17 April 2015|work=Gobier node Canarias}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/boc/1994/157/boc-1994-157-001.pdf|title=Boletín Oficial de Canarias|pages=9723 and 9865-9867|work=Gobier node Canarias|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> Regular ferries operated to La Graciosa, while other islands can only be accessed by small fishing boats, and is prohibited to land in these islands.<ref name="Park"/>
== Topography == The Chinijo Archipelago consists of predominantly volcanic highlands characterized by numerous volcanic cones and craters. Montaña Clara in the islands the largest volcanic crater in the archipelago.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Smith">{{cite web |url=http://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=383060 |title=Gloval Volcanism Program, Lanzarote |editor=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref> The topography consists of sandy beaches interspersed with volcanic rocks with scattered vegetation consisting of shrubs and succulent plants.<ref name="Lazarote"/><ref name="Park"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin-top:0.5em;" |- |+Volcanoes<ref name="Smith"/> ! scope="col" | Volcano ! scope="col" | Commune /<br />Locality ! scope="col" | Description ! scope="col" | Altitude ! scope="col" class="unsortable" width="150px" | Photograph |- | Montaña Amarilla, | La Graciosa<br>{{coord|29|13|0|N|13|32|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 172 m | 150px |- | Montaña Bermeja | La Graciosa | Volcanic cone | 157 m |
|- | Montaña Lobos | Close to coast of Alegranza {{coord|29|23|0|N|13|30|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 221 m | |- | Montaña del Mojon | Coast of La Graciosa {{coord|29|14|0|N|13|30|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 188 m |- | Montaña de Pedre Barba | La Graciosa<br>{{coord|29|15|0|N|13|30|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 266 m | 150px |- | Montaña Clara | Montaña Clara {{coord|29|17|0|N|13|32|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 256 m |150px |- | Roque del Oeste | Teguise, Chinijo {{coord|29|19|0|N|13|31|0|W}} | Volcanic cone | 41 m | 150px |- | Roque del Este | Teguise, Chinijo {{coord|29|16|35|N|13|20|15|W}} | Volcanic cone | 84 m | 150px |}
==See also== *Geology of the Canary Islands
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Chinijo Archipielago}}
{{Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands}}
{{coord|29|20|N|13|30|W|display=title}}
Category:Islands of the Canary Islands Category:Natural parks of Spain Category:Marine reserves of Spain Category:Protected areas of the Canary Islands Category:Archipelagoes of Spain Category:Landforms of the Canary Islands