Tenerife

{{Short description|Largest and most populous Canary island}} {{Redirect|Teneriffa|the genus of flies|Teneriffa spicata}} {{Other uses|Tenerife (disambiguation)}} {{Very long|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox islands | name = Tenerife | native_name =  | native_name_link = | native_name_lang = Spanish | sobriquet =  | image_name = Tenerife, Canary Islands ESA23970088.jpeg | image_size = | image_caption = Satellite view | image_alt = | image_map = Spain Canary Islands location map Tenerife.svg | map_alt = | map_size = | map_caption = Location in the Canary Islands | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|28|16|7|N|16|36|20|W|region:ES-CN_type:isle_dim:50km|display=inline,title}} | etymology = | location = Atlantic Ocean | archipelago = Canary Islands | waterbody = | area_km2 = 2034.38 | area_footnotes = <ref name="istac_territorio">{{cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/jaxi-istac/menu.do?uripub=urn:uuid:fbc0bdc8-cacb-43b8-a5cb-a93f745dcff6 |title=Estadística del Territorio |publisher=Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC) |access-date=2019-07-17 |language=es |trans-title=Territory Statistics }}</ref> | rank = 1st | length_km =  | length_footnotes = | width_km =  | width_footnotes = | coastline_km = 342 | coastline_footnotes = <ref name="istac_territorio" /> | elevation_m = 3715 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="IGN_PhysicalMap_2012">{{cite web | url=http://centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/busquedaRedirigida.do?ruta=PUBLICACION_CNIG_DATOS_VARIOS/MapasGenerales/Espana_Mapa-fisico-de-Espana-1-3.000.000_2012_mapa_11999_spa.jpg# | title=Mapa Físico de España (Physical Map of Spain)| work=Atlas Nacional de España (National Atlas of Spain) | publisher=Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain) | date=2012 | access-date=18 April 2023 }}</ref> | highest_mount = Teide | country = {{Flagicon|Spain}} Spain | country_admin_divisions_title = Autonomous community | country_admin_divisions = {{Flagicon|Canary Islands}} Canary Islands | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Province | country_admin_divisions_1 = Santa Cruz de Tenerife | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = | country_admin_divisions_2 = | country_capital_type = | country_capital = | country_largest_city_type = | country_largest_city = | country_capital_and_largest_city = Santa Cruz de Tenerife | country_largest_city_population = 212,080 | country_leader_title = President of the ''cabildo insular'' | country_leader_name = {{ill|Rosa Dávila Mamely|es}} (2023) | country_area_km2 =  | demonym = {{lang|es|tinerfeño/a}}; {{lang|es|chicharrero/a}} | population = 972,018 | population_as_of = 2026 | population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero)(59664) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=59664 |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref> | population_rank = 1st | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = 478 | density_rank = 2nd | density_footnotes = | languages = Spanish | ethnic_groups = • 74% Spaniards * • 26% foreign-born<ref>{{Cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero)(59664) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=59664 |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref> | timezone1 = WET | utc_offset1 = ±00:00 | timezone1_DST = WEST | utc_offset1_DST = +01:00 | website = {{URL|tenerife.es}} | additional_info = | footnotes = All rankings mentioned are in the context of the Canary Islands only. }}

'''Tenerife''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|ɛ|n|ə|ˈ|r|iː|f|(|eɪ|)}} {{respell|TEN|ə|REEF|(ay)}}; {{IPA|es|teneˈɾife|lang|Pronunciation of Tenerife in Spanish.ogg}}; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain.<ref name="ine.es">{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (National Statistics Institute) |publisher=Ine.es |access-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115204400/http://www.ine.es/jaxi/tabla.do |archive-date=15 January 2009 }}</ref> With a land area of {{convert|2034.38|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and a population of 972,018 inhabitants {{As of|2026|1|lc=y}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo y lugar de nacimiento (España/extranjero)(59664) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=59664 |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref> it is the most-populous island in Spain<ref name="ine.es"/> and the entire Macaronesia region. Tenerife is also home to 42.7% of the total population of the archipelago.<ref name="catalogo.museosdetenerife.org">{{cite web |url=http://catalogo.museosdetenerife.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/MACAMONO/id/16/rec/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032309/http://catalogo.museosdetenerife.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/MACAMONO/id/16/rec/1 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |title=La Macaronesia. Consideraciones geológicas, biogeográficas y paleoecológicas |trans-title=Macaronesia: geology, biogeography and palaeo-ecology |publisher=Museos de Tenerife }}</ref>

More than seven million tourists (7,384,707 in 2024) visit Tenerife each year, making it by far the most visited island in the archipelago.<ref name="20 Minutos">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/live/RfSeVWJ2qec?si=HuSSUlZR9CuK0I2A |title=Presentación Boletín Trimestral Coyuntura Económica Cabildo-Cámara de Comercio. |language=en |access-date=2025-03-11 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain<ref name="riull.ull.es">{{cite web |url=http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/bitstream/handle/915/165/Posicionamiento%20de%20Tenerife%20como%20destino%20turistico.%20Propuestas%20de%20mejora%20a%20traves%20de%20la%20estrategia%20de%20diferenciacion..pdf?sequence=1 |title=Posicionamiento turístico de Tenerife |trans-title=Tourism in Tenerife |work=ull.es |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> and the world,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/lifestyle/ranking-hecho-por-viajeros-los-mejores-destinos-del-mundo-en-2021-nid02042021/ |title=Ranking hecho por viajeros: los mejores destinos del mundo en 2021 |work=lanacion.com |date=5 April 2021 |access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref> hosting one of the world's largest carnivals, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The capital of the island, {{lang|es|Santa Cruz de Tenerife|italic=no}}, is also the seat of the island council ({{lang|es|cabildo insular}}). The city and {{lang|es|Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|italic=no}} are the co-capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. The two cities are both home to governmental institutions, such as the offices of the presidency and the ministries. After the 1833 territorial division of Spain, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands. In 1927, the Crown established the current co-capital arrangement.<ref name="es.wikisource.org">{{lang|es|Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833}} on Wikisource</ref><ref name="gobiernodecanarias.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf |title=Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833 |trans-title=Royal Decree of 30 November 1833 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722105020/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/tuestatuto/docs/1833-12-03%20Decreto%20de%20division%20provincial.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2012 |publisher=Government of the Canary Isles }}</ref> Santa Cruz contains the modern {{lang|es|Auditorio de Tenerife|italic=no}}, the architectural symbol of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Europe/Spain/Madrid/Madrid/Mostoles/photo370327.htm |title=Auditorio de Tenerife |publisher=Treklens |access-date=13 October 2009 |archive-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210073021/http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Europe/Spain/Madrid/Madrid/Mostoles/photo370327.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laregioninternacional.com/noticia/22376/Sellos/auditorio/Tenerife/ |title=Correos emite seis sellos con obras emblemáticas de la arquitectura española e incluye el Auditorio de Tenerife |work=La Región Internacional |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411233325/http://www.laregioninternacional.com/noticia/22376/Sellos/auditorio/Tenerife/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 |publisher=La Region Internacional }}</ref>

The island is home to the University of La Laguna. Founded in 1792 in {{lang|es|San Cristóbal de La Laguna|italic=no}}, it is the oldest university in the Canaries. The city of La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second-most populous city on the island, and the third-most populous in the archipelago. It was the capital of the Canary Islands before Santa Cruz replaced it in 1833.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arquitectuba.com.ar/diccionario-arquitectura-construccion/san-cristobal-de-la-laguna/ |title=San Cristóbal De La Laguna |work=Diccionario de Arquitectura y Construcción |publisher=Arquitectura Uba |access-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105123250/http://www.arquitectuba.com.ar/diccionario-arquitectura-construccion/san-cristobal-de-la-laguna/ |archive-date=5 January 2009 }}</ref> Tenerife is served by two airports: Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport.

Teide National Park, located in the centre of the island, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It includes Mount Teide, which has the highest elevation in Spain, and the highest elevation among all the islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the third-largest volcano in the world when measured from its base.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta+sin+perderte+nada/Mas+sobre+Tenerife/Naturaleza/Espacios+naturales/Parque+Nacional+de+El+Teide/?Lang=es |title=Parque nacional del Teide |trans-title=Teide National Park |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826195531/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta+sin+perderte+nada/Mas+sobre+Tenerife/Naturaleza/Espacios+naturales/Parque+Nacional+de+El+Teide/?Lang=es |archive-date=26 August 2009 |publisher=Tenerife Tourism Authority }}</ref> Another geographical feature of the island, the {{lang|es|Macizo de Anaga|italic=no}} (massif), has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2015.<ref name="efeverde.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.efeverde.com/noticias/el-macizo-de-anaga-alberga-mayor-concentracion-de-endemismos-de-toda-europa/ |title=El macizo de Anaga alberga mayor concentración de endemismos de toda Europa |trans-title=The Macizo de Anago harbours the highest concentration of endemic species in Europe |work=Efeverde.com |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=18 April 2017 }}</ref> Tenerife also has the largest number of endemic species in Europe.<ref name="efeverde.com"/>

== Toponymy == [[File:Imagen sintética de Tenerife.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Altitude map of Tenerife, with the highest altitude (Mount Teide) in blue and the lowest (sea level) in black]] The name 'Tenerife' likely derives from the Tamazight, but there is no consensus on its exact meaning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guanchismos.ulpgc.es/item/14416|title=Tenerife|author=Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref>

thumb|upright|Satellite view (April 2023) The island's indigenous people, the Guanche Berbers, referred to the island as {{lang|gnc|Achinet}} or {{lang|gnc|Chenet}} in their language (variant spellings are found in the literature). Berber king Juba II and the ancient Romans called the island of Tenerife {{lang|la|Nivaria}}, from the Latin word {{wikt-lang|la|nix}} (nsg.; gsg. {{lang|la|nivis}}, npl. {{lang|la|nives}}), meaning "snow", after the snow-covered peak of the Mount Teide volcano.<ref>Charles Knight, ''The English Cyclopaedia'', 1866, Bradbury, Evans</ref> Later maps dating to the 14th and 15th centuries, drawn by mapmakers such as Bontier and Le Verrier, called the island {{lang|es|Isla del Infierno}}, ("Hell Island"), due to Mount Teide's volcanic eruptions and other volcanic activity.

Although the name given to the island by the {{lang|es|Benahoaritas}} (the indigenous peoples of La Palma) was derived from the words {{lang|gnc|teni}} ("mountain") and {{lang|gnc|ife}} ("white"),{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} after the Spanish colonized the island, the name was modified by Spanish phonology: the letter "r" was added to link the two words, producing the single word Tenerife.<ref name="Abreu">{{cite book |last=Abreu Galindo |first=FR. J. |title=Historia de la conquista de las siete islas de Canaria |year=1977 |publisher=Goya |isbn=978-84-400-3645-2 |language=es }}</ref><ref name="Bethencourt">{{cite book |last=Bethencourt Alfonso |first=Juan |title=Historia del pueblo guanche |publisher=Francisco Lemus Editor SL |year=1997 |isbn=978-84-87973-10-9 |language=es }}</ref>

Throughout history, though, other explanations for the origin of the island's name have been proposed. For example, 17th-century historians {{lang|es|Juan Núñez de la Peña|italic=no}} and {{lang|es|Tomás Arias Marín de Cubas|italic=no}}, among others, suggested that the indigenous peoples might have named the island for the famous Guanche king, Tinerfe, nicknamed "the Great", who ruled Tenerife before the conquest of the Canary Islands by Castile.<ref>[https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/5120305.pdf "El nombre de Tenerife." Joaquín Caridad Arias], Dial Net</ref>

{{Wide image|Panorama Teide BW.jpg|1536px|Panorama of Teide National Park}}

== Demonym == The formal demonym used to refer to the people of Tenerife is {{lang|es|Tinerfeño/a}}; also used colloquially is the term {{lang|es|chicharrero/a}}.<ref name="gentilicio">{{cite web|url=http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltGUIBusUsual?LEMA=chicharrero|title=Real Academia Española|work=rae.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> In modern society, the latter term is generally applied only to inhabitants of the capital, Santa Cruz. The term {{lang|es|chicharrero}} was once a derogatory term used by the people of La Laguna when it was the capital, to refer to the poorer inhabitants and fishermen of Santa Cruz. The fishermen typically caught mackerel and other residents ate potatoes, assumed to be of low quality by the elite of La Laguna.<ref name="gentilicio"/> As Santa Cruz grew in commerce and status, it replaced La Laguna as capital of Tenerife in 1833 during the reign of Fernando VII. Then, the inhabitants of Santa Cruz used the former insult to identify as residents of the new capital, at La Laguna's expense.<ref name="gentilicio"/> == History == [[File:MNH - Mumie Mann 1.jpg|thumb|Guanche mummy in Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]] The earliest known human settlement in the islands, dating to around 200 BC, was established by Berbers known as the Guanches,<ref name="Nido">{{cite web|url=http://www.nidolanguagetravel.com/destinations/tenerife/history-tenerife.aspx |title=g|publisher=Nido Language Travel|access-date=15 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061223092052/http://www.nidolanguagetravel.com/destinations/tenerife/history-tenerife.aspx |archive-date=23 December 2006}}</ref> but the Cave of the Guanches in the northern municipality of Icod de los Vinos has provided the oldest chronologies of the Canary Islands, with dates around the sixth century BC.<ref name="Arco Aguilar_1">{{cite journal |last1=Arco Aguilar |first1=Marcelino J. del |last2=Arco Aguilar |first2=María del Carmen del |last3=Arco Aguilar |first3=María Mercedes del |last4=Atiénzar Armas |first4=Emilio |last5=González Hernández |first5=Cecilia |last6=Rosario Adrián |first6=María Candelaria |year=2000 |title=El menceyato de Icod en el poblamiento de Tenerife. D. Gaspar, Las Palomas y Los Guanches. Sobre el poblamiento y las estrategias de alimentación vegetal entre los guanches |language=es |trans-title=The menceyato of Icod in the settlement of Tenerife. D. Gaspar, Las Palomas and Los Guanches. On the settlement and the plant feeding strategies among the Guanches |journal=Eres. Arqueología/Bioantropología |number=9 |pages=67–129 |location=Santa Cruz de Tenerife |publisher=Museo Arqueológico de Tenerife |issn=1130-6572 |url=http://www.museosdetenerife.org/assets/downloads/publication-c408de300b.pdf}}</ref>

In terms of technology, the Guanches can be placed among the peoples of the Stone Age, although scholars often reject this classification because of its ambiguity. Guanche culture was more culturally advanced, possibly due to Berber cultural features imported from North Africa, but less technologically advanced because of the scarcity of raw materials, especially minerals that would have enabled metal extraction and working. The main activity was gathering food from nature, though fishing and shellfish collection were supplemented with some agricultural practices.<ref>[http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=2&idcap=10&idcon=178 La población prehispánica: los guaches – Gran Enciclopedia Virtual de Canarias]</ref>

As for religion and cosmology, the Guanches were polytheistic, with further widespread belief in an astral cult. They also had an animistic religiosity that sacralized certain places, mainly rocks and mountains. Although the Guanches worshiped many gods and ancestral spirits, among the most important were Achamán (the god of the sky and supreme creator), Chaxiraxi (the mother goddess, identified later with the Virgin of Candelaria), Magec (the god of the sun), and Guayota (the demon who is the main cause of evil). Especially significant was the cult of the dead, which practiced the mummification of corpses. In addition, small anthropomorphic and zoomorphic stone and clay figurines, typically associated with rituals, have been found on the island. Scholars believe they were used as idols, the most prominent of which is the so-called Idol of Guatimac, which is thought to represent a genius or protective spirit.<ref>{{Cite book |url=www.www.com |title=}}</ref>

=== Territorial organisation before the conquest (the Guanches) === The title of ''mencey'' was given to the monarch or king of the Guanches of Tenerife, who governed a ''menceyato'' or kingdom. This role was later referred to as a "captainship" by the conquerors. Tinerfe "the Great", son of the ''mencey'' Sunta, governed the island from Adeje in the south. Upon his death, though, his nine children rebelled and argued bitterly about how to divide the island.

Two independent ''achimenceyatos'' were created on the island, and the island was divided into nine ''menceyatos''. The ''menceyes'' within them formed what was similar to municipalities today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canariasacross.com/islas/tenerife/situacion_historia.htm|title=El Portal de las Islas Canarias|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429072039/http://www.canariasacross.com/islas/tenerife/situacion_historia.htm|archive-date=29 April 2009}}</ref> The ''menceyatos'' and their ''menceyes'' (ordered by the names of descendants of Tinerfe who ruled them) were the following:

thumb|Territorial map of Tenerife before the conquest

* Taoro. ''Menceyes'': Bentinerfe, Inmobach, Bencomo and Bentor. Today it includes Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, La Victoria de Acentejo, La Matanza de Acentejo, Los Realejos and Santa Úrsula. * Güímar. ''Menceyes'': Acaymo, Añaterve and Guetón. Today this territory is made up of El Rosario, Candelaria, Arafo and Güímar * Abona. ''Menceyes'': Atguaxoña and Adxoña (Adjona). Today it includes Fasnia, Arico, Granadilla de Abona, San Miguel de Abona and Arona. * Anaga. ''Menceyes'': Beneharo and Beneharo II. Today, this territory spans the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. * Tegueste. ''Menceyes'': Tegueste, Tegueste II and Teguaco. Today, this territory is made up of Tegueste, part of the coastal zone of La Laguna. * Tacoronte: ''Menceyes'': Rumén and Acaymo. Today this territory is made up of Tacoronte and El Sauzal * Icode. ''Menceyes'': Chincanayro and Pelicar. Today this territory is made up of San Juan de la Rambla, La Guancha, Garachico, and Icod de los Vinos. * Daute. ''Menceyes'': Cocanaymo and Romen. Today this territory is occupied by El Tanque, Los Silos, Buenavista del Norte and Santiago del Teide. * Adeje. ''Menceyes''. Atbitocazpe, Pelinor and Ichasagua. It included what today are the municipalities of Guía de Isora, Adeje and Vilaflor

The ''achimenceyato'' of Punta del Hidalgo was governed by Aguahuco, a "poor noble" who was an illegitimate son of Tinerfe and Zebenzui.

=== Castilian conquest === [[File:AlonsoFernandezdeLugo2.JPG|thumb|left|Alonso Fernandez de Lugo presenting the native kings of Tenerife to Ferdinand and Isabella]] Tenerife was the last island of the Canaries to be conquered and the one that took the longest time to submit to the Castilian troops. Although the traditional dates for the conquest of Tenerife are set between 1494 (the landing of Alonso Fernández de Lugo) and 1496 (the complete conquest of the island), attempts to annex Tenerife to the Crown of Castile date back at least to 1464.<ref name="Antonio">{{cite book|last=Rumeu de Armas|first=Antonio |title=La Conquista de Tenerife (1494–1496) |edition=1st |year=1975 |publisher=Aula de Cultura de Tenerife |isbn=84-500-7108-9 |chapter=VI-XIII-XV |pages= 155–171; 291–294; 350–354 }}</ref>

In 1464, Diego Garcia de Herrera, Lord of the Canary Islands, took symbolic possession of the island in the ''Barranco del Bufadero'' (Ravine of the Bufadero),<ref name="Schwartz1994">{{cite book|author=Eduardo Aznar Vallejo|editor=Stuart B. Schwartz|title=Implicit Understandings: Observing, Reporting and Reflecting on the Encounters Between Europeans and Other Peoples in the Early Modern Era|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wtUGwJwEQ7UC&pg=PA144|year= 1994|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-45880-1|page=144|chapter=Conquests of the Canary Islands}}</ref> signing a peace treaty with the Guanche chiefs (''menceyes'') which allowed the ''mencey'' Anaga to build a fortified tower on Guanche land, where the Guanches and the Spanish held periodic treaty talks until the Guanches demolished it around 1472.<ref name="Armas197574">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rumeu de Armas|title=La conquista de Tenerife, 1494–1496|url=http://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128|year=1975|publisher=Aula de Cultura de Tenerife|language=es|pages=74, 76|chapter=Planes de Dominación Política|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301154146/https://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128}}</ref>

In 1492, the governor of Gran Canaria, Francisco Maldonado, organized a raid that ended in disaster for the Spaniards when Anaga's warriors defeated them. In December 1493, the Catholic monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, granted Alonso Fernández de Lugo the right to conquer Tenerife. Coming from Gran Canaria in April 1494, the conqueror landed on the coast of present-day Santa Cruz de Tenerife in May, and disembarked with about 2,000 men on foot and 200 on horseback.<ref name="Armas1975177">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rumeu de Armas|title=La conquista de Tenerife, 1494–1496|url=http://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128|year=1975|publisher=Aula de Cultura de Tenerife|language=es|page=177|chapter=La Primera Entrada|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301154146/https://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128}}</ref> After taking the fort, the army prepared to move inland, later capturing the native kings of Tenerife and presenting them to Isabella and Ferdinand.

The ''menceyes'' of Tenerife had differing responses to the conquest. They divided into the ''side of peace'' ({{langx|es|bando de paz|links=no}}) and the ''side of war'' ({{langx|es|bando de guerra|links=no}}). The first included the ''menceyatos'' of Anaga, Güímar, Abona, and Adeje. The second group consisted of the people of Tegueste, Tacoronte, Taoro, Icoden, and Daute. Those opposed to the conquest fought the invaders tenaciously, resisting their rule for two years. Castilian forces under the ''Adelantado'' ("military governor") de Lugo suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Guanches in the First Battle of Acentejo on 31 May 1494. Still, they defeated them at the Second Battle of Acentejo on 25 December 1494. The Guanches were eventually overcome by superior technology and the invaders' arms and surrendered to the Crown of Castile in 1496.<ref name="Armas1975278">{{cite book|author=Antonio Rumeu de Armas|title=La conquista de Tenerife, 1494–1496|url=http://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128|year=1975|publisher=Aula de Cultura de Tenerife|language=es|page=278|chapter=La Victoria de Acentejo|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301154146/https://mdc.ulpgc.es/cdm/ref/collection/MDC/id/44128}}</ref>

=== Spanish rule === [[File:Alfred Diston - Square in the Village of Los Silos, Tenerife - B1986.29.83 - Yale Center for British Art.jpg|thumb|Square in the village of Los Silos, Tenerife, by Alfred Diston, 1827]] Many of the natives died from new infectious diseases, such as influenza and probably smallpox, to which they lacked resistance or had not yet acquired immunity. The new colonists intermarried with the local native population. For a century after the conquest, many new colonists settled on the island, including immigrants from the diverse territories of the growing Spanish Empire, such as Flanders, Italy, and Germany.

As the population grew, it cleared Tenerife's pine forests for fuel and to create agricultural fields, growing crops for both local consumption and export. Sugar cane was introduced in the 1520s as a commodity crop on major plantations; it was labor-intensive throughout cultivation and processing. In the following centuries, planters cultivated wine grapes, cochineal for dye production, and plantains for consumption and export.<ref name="naturaycultura">{{cite book |last=Hernández|first=Pedro|title=Natura y Cultura de las Islas Canarias|publisher= Tafor|year=2003|isbn=978-84-932758-0-8}}</ref>

=== Trade with the Americas === [[File:Amaro Pargo.jpg|thumb|Amaro Pargo (1678–1741), corsair and merchant from Tenerife who participated in the Spanish treasure fleet (the Spanish-American trade route)]] In the commerce of the Canary Islands with the Americas in the 18th century, Tenerife was the hegemonic island, since it accounted for over 50% of the number of ships and 60% of the tonnage. In the islands of La Palma and Gran Canaria, the percentage was around 19% for the first and 7% for the second.<ref name="canariascnnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.canariascnnews.com/index.php/mirador/canarias/item/1721-el-comercio-canario-americano-en-el-siglo-xviii-i-parte|title=El comercio canario-americano en el siglo XVIII (I parte)|website=canariascnnews.com|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707091632/http://www.canariascnnews.com/index.php/mirador/canarias/item/1721-el-comercio-canario-americano-en-el-siglo-xviii-i-parte|archive-date=7 July 2018}}</ref> The volume of traffic between the Indies and the Canary Islands was unknown, but was very important and concentrated almost exclusively in Tenerife.<ref name="canariascnnews.com"/>

Among the products that are exported were cochineal, rum, and sugar cane, which were landed mainly in the ports of the Americas such as La Guaira, Havana, Campeche, and Veracruz. Many sailors from Tenerife joined this transcontinental maritime trade, among whom were the corsair Amaro Rodríguez Felipe, more commonly known as ''Amaro Pargo'', Juan Pedro Dujardín, and Bernardo de Espinosa, both companions of Amaro Pargo, among others.<ref name="DocsAmaro">{{Cite book| publisher = Archivo Histórico Provincial de Santa Cruz de Tenerife| isbn = 978-84-7947-637-3| last1 = De Paz Sánchez| first1 = Manuel| last2 = García Pulido| first2 = Daniel| others = Francisco Javier Macías Martín (ed.)| title = El corsario de Dios. Documentos sobre Amaro Rodríguez Felipe (1678–1747)| location = Canarias| series = Documentos para la Historia de Canarias| access-date = 8 June 2016| date = 2015| url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291148031}}</ref>

=== Emigration to the Americas ===

Tenerife, like the other islands, has maintained a close relationship with Latin America, as both were part of the Spanish Empire. From the start of the colonization of the New World, many Spanish expeditions stopped at the island for supplies on their way to the Americas. They also recruited many ''tinerfeños'' for their crews, who played an integral role in the conquest expeditions. Others joined ships in search of better prospects. It is also important to note the exchange of plant and animal species that occurred during those voyages.<ref name="emigracion">{{in lang|es}} [http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/culturacanaria/emigracion/La_emigracion_canaria.htm "Emigration to the Americas throughout history"], Gobierno de Canarias</ref>

thumb|upright|Woman of La Victoria, Tenerife, by Alfred Diston, 1828 After a century and a half of relative growth in the viticulture sector, numerous families emigrated, especially to Venezuela and Cuba. The Crown wanted to encourage the population of underdeveloped zones in the Americas to pre-empt the occupation by foreign forces, as had happened with the English in Jamaica and the French in the Guianas and western Hispaniola (which the French renamed as Saint-Domingue). Canary Islanders, including many ''tinerfeños,'' left for the New World.

The success of cultivating new crops from the Americas, such as cocoa in Venezuela and tobacco in Cuba, contributed to the population exodus from towns such as Buenavista del Norte, Vilaflor, and El Sauzal in the late 17th century. The village of San Carlos de Tenerife was founded in 1684 by Canary Islanders on Santo Domingo. The people from Tenerife were recruited for settlement to build up the town to prevent encroachment by French colonists established on the western side of Hispaniola. Between 1720 and 1730, the Crown moved 176 families, including many ''tinerfeños,'' to the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. In 1726, about 25 island families migrated to the Americas to collaborate on the foundation of Montevideo. Four years later, in 1730, another group left that founded San Antonio the following year in what became Texas. Between 1777 and 1783, more islanders emigrated from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to settle in what became St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, during the period when Spain ruled this former French territory west of the Mississippi River. Some groups went to Western or Spanish Florida.<ref name="emigracion"/>

thumb|upright|Man and woman of Chasna, Tenerife, by Alfred Diston, 1828 Tenerife saw the arrival of the First Fleet to Botany Bay in June 1787, which consisted of 11 ships that departed from Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787 to found the penal colony that became the first European settlement in Australia. The Fleet consisted of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships, and six convict ships carrying between 1,000 and 1,500 convicts, marines, seamen, civil officers, and free people (accounts differ on the numbers), and a vast quantity of stores. On 3 June 1787, the fleet anchored at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Here, fresh water, vegetables, and meat were brought on board—Commander of the fleet, Capt. Arthur Phillip and the chief officers were entertained by the local governor, while one convict tried unsuccessfully to escape. On 10 June, they set sail for Rio de Janeiro, taking advantage of favorable trade winds and ocean currents.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [https://canariascoleccion.com/australia-tenerife-first-fleet/ Australia-Tenerife. First Fleet], Canarias Colección</ref>

In June 1799, the Prussian-born naturalist Alexander von Humboldt spent five full days on Tenerife on the first leg of his soon world-famous American journey (1799–1804) and climbed the Pico del Teide.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Daum |first=Andreas W. |title=Alexander von Humboldt: A Concise Biography |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-0-691-24736-6 |location=Trans. Robert Savage. Princeton, N.J. |page=61}}</ref>

Emigration to the Americas (mainly Cuba and Venezuela) continued during the 19th and early 20th century, due to the lack of economic opportunity and the relative isolation of the Canary Islands. Since the late 20th century, island protectionist economic laws and a strong development in the tourism industry have strengthened the economy and attracted new migrants. Tenerife has welcomed numerous new residents, including the "return" of many descendants of islanders who had departed five centuries earlier.<ref name="emigracion"/>

=== Military history === thumb|right|Admiral Nelson wounded at Tenerife The most notable conflict was the British invasion of Tenerife in 1797.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ihycm/index-total.html?http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ihycm/chycm/canarias/museo.htm Instituto de Historia y Cultura Militar de Canarias] {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 25 July 1797, Admiral Horatio Nelson launched an attack at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, now the capital of the island. After a ferocious fight, which resulted in many casualties, General Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana organized a defense to repel the invaders. Whilst leading a landing party, Nelson was seriously wounded in his right arm by grapeshot or a musket ball, necessitating amputation of most of the arm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aboutnelson.co.uk/health.htm|title=Nelson's Health|website=aboutnelson.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-14}}</ref> Legend tells that the Spanish cannon ''Tiger'' ({{langx|es|Tigre|links=no}}) wounded him as he was trying to disembark on the Paso Alto coast.<ref name="naturaycultura"/>

On 5 September 1797, the British attempted another attack in the Puerto Santiago region, which was repelled by the inhabitants of Santiago del Teide. Some threw rocks at the British from the heights of the cliffs of ''Los Gigantes.''

The island was also attacked by British commanders Robert Blake, Walter Raleigh, John Hawkins and Woodes Rogers.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.vierayclavijo.org/html/paginas/cursos/cursos_2005/0505_masca/masca_05.htm Asociación canaria para la enseñanza de las ciencias- Viera y Clavijo]</ref>

Santa Cruz de Tenerife was, especially during the first half of the 18th century, the most important corsair centre in the Macaronesian region.<ref name=B>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321110986|title=Amaro Pargo: documentos de una vida, I. Héroe y forajido}}</ref><ref>[https://www.elescobillon.com/2018/08/%E2%80%9Csanta-cruz-de-tenerife-fue-la-capital-corsaria-de-la-macaronesia-la-primera-mitad-del-siglo-xviii%E2%80%9D/ "Santa Cruz de Tenerife fue la capital corsaria de la Macaronesia la primera mitad del siglo XVIII"] El Escobillón, 06/08/2018</ref> The recent discovery of abundant documentary evidence of significant corsair activity, carried out primarily by natives, residents, and islanders, confirms this fact. At the same time, the numerous pirate ships that frequented the Canary Islands' waters used landing places along the coast. Such was the case of Valle de Salazar or San Andrés, which had acquired a reputation as a "pirate port" until the construction of its castle or defensive tower.<ref>[https://www.elblogoferoz.com/2013/04/15/piratas-en-santa-cruz-de-tenerife-por-jose-manuel-ledesma/ Piratas en Santa Cruz de Tenerife] El Blog Feroz, 15/04/2013</ref>

=== Modern history === From 1833 to 1927, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands. In 1927, the government ordered that the capital be shared with Las Palmas, as it remains at present.<ref name="es.wikisource.org"/><ref name="gobiernodecanarias.org"/> This change in status has encouraged development in Las Palmas.

Tourists from Spain, the United Kingdom, and northern Europe began visiting Tenerife in large numbers in the 1890s. They especially were attracted to the destinations of the northern towns of Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puertodelacruz.es/puerto/front_end/articulo.php?id_Art=123&idioma=1|title=Página web Ayuntamiento Puerto de la Cruz|work=puertodelacruz.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303034305/http://www.puertodelacruz.es/puerto/front_end/articulo.php?id_Art=123|archive-date=3 March 2007}}</ref> Independent shipping business, such as the Yeoward Brothers Shipping Line, helped boost the tourist industry during this time, adding to ships that carried passengers. The naturalist Alexander von Humboldt ascended the peak of Mount Teide and remarked on the beauty of the island.

Before his rise to power, Francisco Franco was posted to Tenerife in March 1936 by a Republican government wary of his influence and political leanings. However, Franco received information and, in Gran Canaria, agreed to collaborate in the military coup that would result in the Spanish Civil War; the Canaries fell to the Nationalists in July 1936. In the 1950s, the misery of the post-war years caused thousands of the island's inhabitants to emigrate to Cuba and other parts of Latin America.

Tenerife was the site of the deadliest accident ever in commercial aviation. The Tenerife airport disaster occurred on 27 March 1977 when two Boeing 747s, KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in heavy fog conditions, causing the deaths of 583 passengers and crew. A few years later, Dan Air Flight 1008 crashed into a mountain while on approach to Tenerife North, killing 146 people. The plane was traveling too close to an Iberia Air turboprop and was asked to enter a holding pattern.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19800425-0&lang=en | title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-46 G-BDAN Esperanzo Forest }}</ref>

At the beginning of the 21st century, the so-called Tenerife flood of 2002 took place on 31 March of that year. It was a phenomenon of cold drop characterized by the repeated fall of torrential rains accompanied by thunder and lightning, affecting the Santa Cruz de Tenerife metropolitan area and extending in the NE direction towards the San Andrés area.<ref>[http://www.eldia.es/2002-04-01/actualidad/actualidad1.htm Noticia sobre las lluvias torrenciales], diario El Día</ref> The rains caused 8 deaths, 12 people missing, and dozens of injuries.<ref>[http://www.eldia.es/2002-04-09/actualidad/actualidad1.htm Ya son OCHO los muertos]. El Día. 9 April 2011</ref> In addition to the human losses, the flood caused considerable material damage, leaving 70,000 people without light, as well as the total or partial destruction of at least 400 homes. The losses were calculated at 90 million euros.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.atan.org/varios/31m/index.htm |title=ATAN Riada del 31 de marzo de 2002 |access-date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=11 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411165326/http://www.atan.org/varios/31m/index.htm }}</ref>

In November 2005, Tenerife was the Canary Island most affected by Tropical Storm Delta. Winds of 140 km/h were recorded on the coast and almost 250 km/h on the Teide, Tenerife's summit.

== Geography == thumb|Palm tree canyon in inland Tenerife Panorama of the La Orotava Valley with Teide in the background|thumb [[File:Teide2007.jpg|Teide and Roque Cinchado|thumb]]

The oldest mountain ranges in Tenerife rose from the Atlantic Ocean through volcanic eruptions, which gave birth to the island around 12 million years ago.<ref name="Origin about">{{cite web |title=Universities in Tenerife |url=https://www.donquijote.org/blog/top-10-spanish-university-cities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206065909/https://www.donquijote.org/blog/top-10-spanish-university-cities/ |archive-date=6 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=don Quijote |publisher=Tyson}}</ref> 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,<ref name="Origin about"/> due to volcanic activity from Teide. The volcano is visible from most parts of the island today, and the crater is {{convert|17|km|0|abbr=off}} long at some points. Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands and the Macaronesia region.<ref name="catalogo.museosdetenerife.org"/>

=== Climate ===

A generally dry, warm climate characterizes Tenerife. The island has two main different climatic areas, according to Köppen climate classification.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Valores climatológicos normales. Canarias|url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos#tab2|access-date=2021-12-22|publisher=AEMET|language=es}}</ref>

The main climates are the hot semi-arid/arid climate (Köppen: ''BSh'' and ''BWh'') and the subtropical Mediterranean Climate (Köppen: ''Csb'' and ''Csa'') inland or at higher altitudes. The low altitude/coastal areas of the island have average temperatures of {{convert|18|-|20|C|F|0}} in the winter months and {{convert|24|-|26|C|F|0}} in the summer months. There is a high annual total of sunshine days and low precipitation in the coastal areas. The inland/high altitude areas, such as La Laguna, are wetter, cloudier, and cooler, with an average of {{convert|13|-|14|C|F|0}} in the winter and {{convert|20|-|21|C|F|0}} in the summer. The moderate climate of Tenerife is controlled to a great extent by the trade winds, whose humidity is condensed principally over the north and northeast of the island, creating cloud banks that range between {{convert|600|and|1,800|m|ft|abbr=off}} in height. The cold sea currents around the Canary Islands also cool the coasts and beaches, while the islands' topography, with its many valleys, contributes to climatic differences. The moderating effect of the marine air makes extreme heat a rare occurrence and frost an impossibility at sea level. The lowest recorded temperature in central Santa Cruz is {{convert|8.1|C|F|1}}, the coldest month on record still had a relatively mild average temperature of {{convert|15.8|C|F|1}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=coo&l=C449C&datos=det&x=C449C&m=13&v=TMB|title=Santa Cruz All Time Records|publisher=Aemet.es|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref> Summer temperatures are highest in August, with an average high of {{convert|29|C|F}} in Santa Cruz, similar to those of places as far north as Barcelona and Mallorca, because of the greater maritime influence. At a higher elevation in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the climate transitions to a Mediterranean climate with higher precipitation and lower year-round temperatures. The climate of Santa Cruz is very typical of the Canaries, albeit only slightly warmer than the climate of Las Palmas.

Major climatic contrasts on the island are evident, especially during the winter months when it is possible to enjoy the warm sunshine on the coast and experience snow within {{convert|3000|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=off}} above sea level on Teide.<ref name=islaaisla>{{cite book | last = González Morales | first = Alejandro | title = Canarias isla a isla (clima) | publisher = Centro de la Cultura Popular Canaria| year = 2000 | isbn = 84-7926-357-1}}</ref> There are also major contrasts at low altitude, where the climate ranges from arid (Köppen ''BWh'') on the southeastern side represented by Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Mediterranean (''Csa''/''Csb'') on the northwestern side in Buenavista del Norte and La Orotava.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Zonas/Santa%20Cruz%20Laguna/Mas%20sobre%20Tenerife/Geografia/Climatologia/Contraste%20norte-sur.htm?Lang=es&sig=true|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017}} {{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The northern and southern parts of Tenerife have different climatic characteristics due to the rain shadow effect. The windward northwestern side of the island is wetter, receiving 73 percent of all precipitation, with higher relative humidity and lower isolation. The greatest rainfall measurements are registered on the windward side between {{convert|1000|and|1,200|m|ft|abbr=off}}, almost exclusively in the La Orotava mountain range.<ref name=islaaisla/> Although climatic differences in rainfall and sunshine on the island exist, overall annual precipitation is low, and the summer months from May to September are normally completely dry. Rainfall, similar to that of Southern California, can also be extremely erratic from one year to another.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/49/82/26/PDF/camberlin_CR_revised.pdf |title=More variable tropical climates have a slower demographic growth |publisher=Hal.archives-ouvertes.fr |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref>

The centre of the island is characterized by forests because of the much higher precipitation, mostly Canary Island pine forests in the Teide National Park at altitudes from {{convert|1300|to|2100|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://biogeografia.net/geobotanica73a.html|title=Bosques de gimnospermas de Canarias|work=Bio Geografía|publisher=biogeografia.net|access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> Subtropical cloud forests characterised by laurisilva<ref>{{cite web|url=https://viajes.nationalgeographic.com.es/a/tenerife-laurisilva-mucho-mas-que-sol-y-playa_14496|title=EL TENERIFE DE LA LAURISILVA, MUCHO MÁS QUE SOL Y PLAYA|work=National Geographic|author=Travel by National Geographic|date=14 August 2019|access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref> are commonly found in the Anaga Rural Park and Monte de Agua in the Teno Rural Park, with altitudes from {{convert|600|to|1000|m|ft}} and annual averages from {{convert|15|to|19|C|F}} and {{convert|600|to|1200|m|ft}} in the latter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://miviaje.com/descubre-bosques-laurisilva-tenerife/|title=Descubre los bosques de laurisilva de Tenerife|publisher=miviaje.com|author=David Díaz, historian at the University of Barcelona|date=5 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

Global climate change has had a major impact on the island, with diminishing rainfall and hot, dry winds affecting vegetation and increasing susceptibility to forest fires. On 15 August 2023, a forest fire determined to be caused by arson necessitated the evacuation of 12,000 residents within a week.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/spain-wildfire-tenerife-climate-canary-islands-heat-85f9b289e77a7d9f9e906c4176181295 Wildfire on Spain's popular tourist island of Tenerife was started deliberately, official says], ''Associated Press'', Arturo Rodriguez and Ciaran Giles, August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.</ref>

{{Weather box | location = Santa Cruz de Tenerife (1991–2020), Extremes (1920–present) | metric first = yes | single line = yes | Jan record high C = 28.4 | Feb record high C = 31.2 | Mar record high C = 35.4 | Apr record high C = 35.2 | May record high C = 36.4 | Jun record high C = 37.1 | Jul record high C = 42.6 | Aug record high C = 40.4 | Sep record high C = 39.3 | Oct record high C = 38.1 | Nov record high C = 34.0 | Dec record high C = 28.2 | year record high C = 42.6 | Jan high C = 21.5 | Feb high C = 21.6 | Mar high C = 22.4 | Apr high C = 23.3 | May high C = 24.8 | Jun high C = 26.9 | Jul high C = 29.2 | Aug high C = 29.7 | Sep high C = 28.6 | Oct high C = 27.0 | Nov high C = 24.5 | Dec high C = 22.6 | year high C = 25.2 | Jan mean C = 18.5 | Feb mean C = 18.5 | Mar mean C = 19.2 | Apr mean C = 20.1 | May mean C = 21.5 | Jun mean C = 23.4 | Jul mean C = 25.4 | Aug mean C = 26.0 | Sep mean C = 25.3 | Oct mean C = 23.8 | Nov mean C = 21.6 | Dec mean C = 19.7 | year mean C = 21.9 | Jan low C = 15.5 | Feb low C = 15.4 | Mar low C = 15.9 | Apr low C = 16.8 | May low C = 18.2 | Jun low C = 19.9 | Jul low C = 21.6 | Aug low C = 22.4 | Sep low C = 22.1 | Oct low C = 20.7 | Nov low C = 18.6 | Dec low C = 16.8 | year low C = 18.7 | Jan record low C = 9.4 | Feb record low C = 8.1 | Mar record low C = 9.5 | Apr record low C = 9.4 | May record low C = 12.0 | Jun record low C = 13.4 | Jul record low C = 16.5 | Aug record low C = 14.6 | Sep record low C = 16.5 | Oct record low C = 14.6 | Nov record low C = 10.1 | Dec record low C = 10.0 | year record low C = 8.1 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 28.8 | Feb precipitation mm = 32.9 | Mar precipitation mm = 27.9 | Apr precipitation mm = 10.3 | May precipitation mm = 3.5 | Jun precipitation mm = 0.6 | Jul precipitation mm = 0.1 | Aug precipitation mm = 3.5 | Sep precipitation mm = 4.5 | Oct precipitation mm = 24.4 | Nov precipitation mm = 35.8 | Dec precipitation mm = 36.8 | year precipitation mm = 209.1 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 4.0 | Feb precipitation days = 3.5 | Mar precipitation days = 3.6 | Apr precipitation days = 2.2 | May precipitation days = 0.8 | Jun precipitation days = 0.1 | Jul precipitation days = 0.0 | Aug precipitation days = 0.4 | Sep precipitation days = 0.8 | Oct precipitation days = 3.2 | Nov precipitation days = 5.0 | Dec precipitation days = 4.9 | year precipitation days = 28.5 | Jan humidity = 62.2 | Feb humidity = 61.6 | Mar humidity = 60.9 | Apr humidity = 59.7 | May humidity = 59.2 | Jun humidity = 59.0 | Jul humidity = 56.5 | Aug humidity = 59.2 | Sep humidity = 63.2 | Oct humidity = 64.6 | Nov humidity = 63.7 | Dec humidity = 64.7 | year humidity = 61.2 | Jan sun = 187.8 | Feb sun = 191.5 | Mar sun = 235.1 | Apr sun = 253.3 | May sun = 289.2 | Jun sun = 312.0 | Jul sun = 346.3 | Aug sun = 329.9 | Sep sun = 267.8 | Oct sun = 227.9 | Nov sun = 179.9 | Dec sun = 177.8 | year sun = 2998.5 | source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C449C&k=coo|title=Valores Climatológicos Normales. Santa Cruz de Tenerife}}</ref> | source 2 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=coo&l=C449C&datos=det |title=Valores Climatológicos Extremos. Santa Cruz de Tenerife }}</ref> | date = February 2016 }}{{Weather box | location = Tenerife South Airport (1991–2020), Extremes (1980–present) | metric first = yes | single line = yes | Jan record high C = 29.3 | Feb record high C = 30.0 | Mar record high C = 34.0 | Apr record high C = 35.6 | May record high C = 37.7 | Jun record high C = 36.2 | Jul record high C = 42.9 | Aug record high C = 44.3 | Sep record high C = 41.8 | Oct record high C = 37.0 | Nov record high C = 35.2 | Dec record high C = 30.0 | year record high C = 44.3 | Jan high C = 22.8 | Feb high C = 22.9 | Mar high C = 23.6 | Apr high C = 24.0 | May high C = 25.0 | Jun high C = 26.2 | Jul high C = 28.2 | Aug high C = 28.8 | Sep high C = 28.1 | Oct high C = 27.3 | Nov high C = 25.4 | Dec high C = 23.7 | year high C = 25.5 | Jan mean C = 19.0 | Feb mean C = 19.0 | Mar mean C = 19.6 | Apr mean C = 20.1 | May mean C = 21.1 | Jun mean C = 22.6 | Jul mean C = 24.2 | Aug mean C = 25.0 | Sep mean C = 24.5 | Oct mean C = 23.6 | Nov mean C = 21.8 | Dec mean C = 20.1 | year mean C = 21.7 | Jan low C = 15.2 | Feb low C = 15.0 | Mar low C = 15.5 | Apr low C = 16.2 | May low C = 17.3 | Jun low C = 18.9 | Jul low C = 20.2 | Aug low C = 21.1 | Sep low C = 20.9 | Oct low C = 19.9 | Nov low C = 18.2 | Dec low C = 16.5 | year low C = 17.9 | Jan record low C = 9.0 | Feb record low C = 9.8 | Mar record low C = 9.6 | Apr record low C = 12.2 | May record low C = 13.0 | Jun record low C = 14.6 | Jul record low C = 16.8 | Aug record low C = 17.1 | Sep record low C = 16.6 | Oct record low C = 14.8 | Nov record low C = 12.0 | Dec record low C = 10.4 | year record low C = 9.0 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 16.5 | Feb precipitation mm = 18.6 | Mar precipitation mm = 12.6 | Apr precipitation mm = 8.3 | May precipitation mm = 0.6 | Jun precipitation mm = 0.3 | Jul precipitation mm = 0.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 1.5 | Sep precipitation mm = 3.0 | Oct precipitation mm = 13.3 | Nov precipitation mm = 10.9 | Dec precipitation mm = 33.3 | year precipitation mm = 118.9 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 1.6 | Feb precipitation days = 1.8 | Mar precipitation days = 1.4 | Apr precipitation days = 1.0 | May precipitation days = 0.2 | Jun precipitation days = 0.1 | Jul precipitation days = 0.0 | Aug precipitation days = 0.3 | Sep precipitation days = 0.6 | Oct precipitation days = 2.0 | Nov precipitation days = 1.4 | Dec precipitation days = 3.2 | year precipitation days = 13.6 | Jan humidity = 59.3 | Feb humidity = 60.4 | Mar humidity = 61.4 | Apr humidity = 62.4 | May humidity = 62.4 | Jun humidity = 63.8 | Jul humidity = 62.4 | Aug humidity = 63.3 | Sep humidity = 65.3 | Oct humidity = 64.9 | Nov humidity = 61.7 | Dec humidity = 61.5 | year humidity = 62.4 | Jan sun = 221.6 | Feb sun = 218.7 | Mar sun = 256.5 | Apr sun = 248.4 | May sun = 275.2 | Jun sun = 283.8 | Jul sun = 329.9 | Aug sun = 310.6 | Sep sun = 247.8 | Oct sun = 235.6 | Nov sun = 211.9 | Dec sun = 215.0 | year sun = 3055.0 | source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref name="aemet.es">{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C429I&k=coo|title=Standard Climate Values. Tenerife Sur Aeropuerto }}</ref> | source 2 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref name="aemet">{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=coo&l=C429I&datos=det |title=Valores Climatológicos Extremos. Tenerife Sur Aeropuerto }}</ref> | date = February 2016 }}{{Weather box | location = San Cristóbal de La Laguna – Tenerife North Airport (altitude: {{convert|632|m|abbr=off}}) | metric first = yes | single line = yes | collapsed = yes | Jan record high C = 25.6 | Feb record high C = 26.9 | Mar record high C = 33.2 | Apr record high C = 33.0 | May record high C = 37.6 | Jun record high C = 37.9 | Jul record high C = 41.4 | Aug record high C = 41.2 | Sep record high C = 38.0 | Oct record high C = 33.2 | Nov record high C = 31.0 | Dec record high C = 25.2 | year record high C = 41.4 | Jan high C = 16.0 | Feb high C = 16.7 | Mar high C = 18.2 | Apr high C = 18.5 | May high C = 20.1 | Jun high C = 22.2 | Jul high C = 24.7 | Aug high C = 25.7 | Sep high C = 24.9 | Oct high C = 22.5 | Nov high C = 19.7 | Dec high C = 17.1 | year high C = 20.5 | Jan mean C = 13.1 | Feb mean C = 13.4 | Mar mean C = 14.5 | Apr mean C = 14.7 | May mean C = 16.1 | Jun mean C = 18.1 | Jul mean C = 20.2 | Aug mean C = 21.2 | Sep mean C = 20.7 | Oct mean C = 18.9 | Nov mean C = 16.5 | Dec mean C = 14.3 | year mean C = 16.8 | Jan low C = 10.2 | Feb low C = 10.0 | Mar low C = 10.7 | Apr low C = 10.9 | May low C = 12.0 | Jun low C = 14.0 | Jul low C = 15.7 | Aug low C = 16.6 | Sep low C = 16.5 | Oct low C = 15.2 | Nov low C = 13.3 | Dec low C = 11.5 | year low C = 13.0 | Jan record low C = 3.2 | Feb record low C = 3.4 | Mar record low C = 2.0 | Apr record low C = 4.2 | May record low C = 6.0 | Jun record low C = 8.5 | Jul record low C = 8.5 | Aug record low C = 7.0 | Sep record low C = 9.2 | Oct record low C = 6.8 | Nov record low C = 6.2 | Dec record low C = 3.5 | year record low C = 2.0 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 80 | Feb rain mm = 70 | Mar rain mm = 61 | Apr rain mm = 39 | May rain mm = 19 | Jun rain mm = 11 | Jul rain mm = 6 | Aug rain mm = 5 | Sep rain mm = 16 | Oct rain mm = 47 | Nov rain mm = 81 | Dec rain mm = 82 | Jan humidity = 76 | Feb humidity = 75 | Mar humidity = 71 | Apr humidity = 74 | May humidity = 72 | Jun humidity = 73 | Jul humidity = 69 | Aug humidity = 69 | Sep humidity = 71 | Oct humidity = 74 | Nov humidity = 75 | Dec humidity = 79 | year humidity = 73 | Jan rain days = 11 | Feb rain days = 10 | Mar rain days = 10 | Apr rain days = 10 | May rain days = 7 | Jun rain days = 4 | Jul rain days = 3 | Aug rain days = 3 | Sep rain days = 5 | Oct rain days = 10 | Nov rain days = 10 | Dec rain days = 12 | unit rain days = 1.0 mm | Jan sun = 150 | Feb sun = 168 | Mar sun = 188 | Apr sun = 203 | May sun = 234 | Jun sun = 237 | Jul sun = 262 | Aug sun = 269 | Sep sun = 213 | Oct sun = 194 | Nov sun = 155 | Dec sun = 137 | year sun = 2410 | source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref name="aemet.es2">{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C447A&k=coo|title=Standard Climate Values. Tenerife Norte Aeropuerto }} </ref> (1981–2010) | source 2 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=coo&l=C447A&datos=det |title=Valores Climatológicos Extremos. Tenerife Norte Aeropuerto }}</ref> | date = February 2016 }}{{Weather box | location = Izaña Teide Observatory (altitude: {{convert|2371|m|abbr=off}}) | metric first = yes | single line = yes | collapsed = yes | Jan high C = 7.5 | Feb high C = 8.0 | Mar high C = 10.2 | Apr high C = 11.8 | May high C = 14.5 | Jun high C = 18.9 | Jul high C = 23.0 | Aug high C = 22.6 | Sep high C = 18.6 | Oct high C = 14.3 | Nov high C = 11.1 | Dec high C = 8.8 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 4.3 | Feb mean C = 4.7 | Mar mean C = 6.4 | Apr mean C = 7.6 | May mean C = 10.1 | Jun mean C = 14.4 | Jul mean C = 18.5 | Aug mean C = 18.2 | Sep mean C = 14.5 | Oct mean C = 10.6 | Nov mean C = 7.8 | Dec mean C = 5.6 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 1.1 | Feb low C = 1.3 | Mar low C = 2.7 | Apr low C = 3.5 | May low C = 5.8 | Jun low C = 9.9 | Jul low C = 14.0 | Aug low C = 13.8 | Sep low C = 10.4 | Oct low C = 6.9 | Nov low C = 4.5 | Dec low C = 2.4 | year low C = | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 47 | Feb rain mm = 67 | Mar rain mm = 58 | Apr rain mm = 18 | May rain mm = 7 | Jun rain mm = 0 | Jul rain mm = 0 | Aug rain mm = 5 | Sep rain mm = 13 | Oct rain mm = 37 | Nov rain mm = 54 | Dec rain mm = 60 | Jan rain days = 4.5 | Feb rain days = 4.0 | Mar rain days = 4.1 | Apr rain days = 2.7 | May rain days = 1.1 | Jun rain days = 0.2 | Jul rain days = 0.1 | Aug rain days = 0.5 | Sep rain days = 1.6 | Oct rain days = 3.7 | Nov rain days = 4.4 | Dec rain days = 5.6 | unit rain days = 1.0 mm | Jan humidity = 50 | Feb humidity = 54 | Mar humidity = 48 | Apr humidity = 45 | May humidity = 40 | Jun humidity = 32 | Jul humidity = 25 | Aug humidity = 30 | Sep humidity = 43 | Oct humidity = 55 | Nov humidity = 54 | Dec humidity = 52 | year humidity = | Jan sun = 226 | Feb sun = 223 | Mar sun = 260 | Apr sun = 294 | May sun = 356 | Jun sun = 382 | Jul sun = 382 | Aug sun = 358 | Sep sun = 295 | Oct sun = 259 | Nov sun = 220 | Dec sun = 218 | year sun = | source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C430E&k=coo|title=Standard Climate Values. Izaña }}</ref> (1981–2010) | date = March 2018 }}{{Weather box |location = Vilaflor (altitude: {{convert|1378|m|abbr=off}} |metric first = yes |single line = yes |collapsed = yes |Jan high C = 13.5 |Feb high C = 14.4 |Mar high C = 16.0 |Apr high C = 16.1 |May high C = 18.3 |Jun high C = 21.2 |Jul high C = 27.4 |Aug high C = 27.9 |Sep high C = 23.5 |Oct high C = 18.7 |Nov high C = 16.0 |Dec high C = 14.5 |year high C = 19.0 |Jan mean C= 9.4 |Feb mean C= 10.2 |Mar mean C= 11.7 |Apr mean C= 11.9 |May mean C= 13.8 |Jun mean C= 16.7 |Jul mean C= 22.7 |Aug mean C= 23.0 |Sep mean C= 19.2 |Oct mean C= 14.4 |Nov mean C= 11.4 |Dec mean C= 10.0 |year mean C= 14.7 |Jan low C = 5.4 |Feb low C = 6.0 |Mar low C = 7.3 |Apr low C = 7.2 |May low C = 9.5 |Jun low C = 12.2 |Jul low C = 18.0 |Aug low C = 18.5 |Sep low C = 14.8 |Oct low C = 10.4 |Nov low C = 8.2 |Dec low C = 7.0 |year low C = 10.2 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 49.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 51.2 |Mar precipitation mm = 34.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 24.4 |May precipitation mm = 2.7 |Jun precipitation mm = 0.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 0.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 0.8 |Sep precipitation mm = 7.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 33.8 |Nov precipitation mm = 70.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 56.2 |year precipitation mm = 366.1 |source 1 = Gobierno de Canarias<ref name="gobierno de canarias">{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/instrumentos/areadescarga/ifonche/aprobaciondefinitiva/informativo.pdf|title=Documento informativo del Plan Especial del paisaje protegido de Ifonche|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081057/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/instrumentos/areadescarga/ifonche/aprobaciondefinitiva/informativo.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> (Temperatures:1983–1995; Precipitation:1945–1997) |date= March 2016}}

{{climate chart | Buenavista del Norte | 12 | 17 | 167 | 11 | 17 | 95 | 12 | 17 | 70 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 22 | 1 | 18 | 23 | 3 | 17 | 23 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 90 | 15 | 19 | 207 | 13 | 17 | 122 | float = right | clear = none | source =<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/es-buena.htm|title=ESP S.C.TENERIFE – BUENAVISTA -TENERIFE-|work=ucm.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>}}

=== Water === The volcanic ground of Tenerife, which is of a porous and permeable character, is generally the reason why the soil can maximise the absorption of water on an island of low rainfall, with condensation in forested areas and frost deposition on the summit of the island also contributing to the cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Area%20profesional/Area%20industria%20turistica/La%20isla/Climatologia/El%20Agua.htm|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015010101/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Area%2Bprofesional/Area%2Bindustria%2Bturistica/La%2Bisla/Climatologia/El%2BAgua.htm|archive-date=15 October 2008}}</ref>

Given the irregularity of precipitation and geological conditions on the island, dam construction has been avoided, so most of the water (90 percent) comes from wells and from water galleries (horizontal tunnels bored into the volcano) of which there are thousands on the island, important systems that serve to extract its hydrological resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aguastenerife.org/4_tfeyelagua/4_3_6.html|title=Información del Consejo Insular de Aguas de Tenerife|work=aguastenerife.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170343/http://www.aguastenerife.org/4_tfeyelagua/4_3_6.html|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> These tunnels are very hazardous, with pockets of volcanic gas or carbon dioxide, causing rapid death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3315 |title=Chesapeake Bay Journal: Article |publisher=Bayjournal.com |access-date=2012-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223232921/http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3315 |archive-date=23 February 2012 }}</ref>

=== Pollution and air quality === The Canary Islands have low levels of air pollution thanks to the lack of factories and industry, and to the trade winds, which naturally carry away contaminated air from the islands. According to official data from Spain's Health and Industry Ministry, Tenerife is one of the cleanest places in the country, with an air pollution index below the national average.<ref>{{ Cite web | access-date=18 April 2017 | title=Troposfera.org – Portal de Calidad del Aire – 404 Error | url=http://www.troposfera.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=781 | work=troposfera.org }}{{ Dead link | date=April 2017 | fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Despite this, there are still agents which affect pollution levels in the island, the main polluting agents being the refinery at Santa Cruz, the thermal power plants at Las Caletillas and Granadilla, and road traffic, increased by the high level of tourism in the island. In addition to the island of Tenerife, as on La Palma, light pollution must also be controlled to help the astrophysical observatories located on the island's summits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atan.org/contaminacion/index.htm|title=Página oficial de ATAN: Contaminación|work=atan.org|access-date=22 April 2017|archive-date=18 February 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010218172753/http://www.atan.org/contaminacion/index.htm}}</ref> Water is generally of a very high quality, and the Ministry of Health and Consumption has catalogued all the beaches of the island of Tenerife as waters suitable for bathing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nayade.msc.es/Splayas/html/ciudadano/documentos/Resumen_Aguas_Banio_2007.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030133628/http://nayade.msc.es/Splayas/html/ciudadano/documentos/Resumen_Aguas_Banio_2007.pdf|archive-date=30 October 2008|title=Información sobre la Calidad del agua de baño|work=msc.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

== Geology == {{See also|Geology of the Canary Islands}} thumb|upright=1.25|Map of Tenerife Tenerife is a rugged volcanic island, sculpted by successive eruptions throughout its history. There are four historically recorded volcanic eruptions, none of which have resulted in casualties. The first occurred in 1704, when the Arafo, Fasnia, and Siete Fuentes volcanoes erupted simultaneously. Two years later, in 1706, the greatest eruption occurred at Trevejo. This volcano produced great quantities of lava, which buried the city and port of Garachico. The last eruption of the 18th century happened in 1798 at Cañadas de Teide, in Chahorra. The most recent eruption-in 1909-formed the Chinyero cinder cone in the municipality of Santiago del Teide.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/C916903C-1153-46A3-ADDC-3B78D2AF9EC5/32675/Tablaerupciones_ampliada.pdf Instituto Geográfico Nacional] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030133628/http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/C916903C-1153-46A3-ADDC-3B78D2AF9EC5/32675/Tablaerupciones_ampliada.pdf |date=30 October 2008 }}</ref>

The island is located between 28° and 29° N and the 16° and 17° W meridian. It is situated north of the Tropic of Cancer, occupying a central position between the other Canary Islands of Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and La Palma. The island is about {{convert|300|km|0|abbr=on}} from the African coast, and approximately {{convert|1000|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the Iberian Peninsula.<ref name=atlas>{{cite book|author=García Rodríguez|title =Atlas interinsular de Canarias|publisher=Editorial interinsular canaria|year=1990|isbn=978-84-86733-09-4}}</ref> Tenerife is the largest island of the Canary Islands archipelago, with a surface area of {{convert|2034.38|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=extension> * {{Cite web |url=http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fterritorio_ambiente%2Farea_01_frame.html |title=Estadísticas de la Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias |access-date=3 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323155813/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fterritorio_ambiente%2Farea_01_frame.html |archive-date=23 March 2010 }} * {{Cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fterritorio_ambiente%2Farea_01_frame.html |title=Estadísticas de la Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias |access-date=3 September 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323155813/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fterritorio_ambiente%2Farea_01_frame.html }}</ref> and has the longest coastline, amounting to {{convert|342|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=costa>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/daco/daco42/territorio/1.1.2.xls|title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|work=ine.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

In addition, the highest point, Mount Teide, with an elevation of {{convert|3715|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level is the highest point in all of Spain,<ref name=teide>{{cite web|url=http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/teide/guia_info_mediofisico.htma|title=Red de Parques Nacionales (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente)|work=mma.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114131713/http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/teide/guia_info_mediofisico.htma|archive-date=14 January 2009}}</ref> is also the third largest volcano in the world from its base in the bottom of the sea. For this reason, Tenerife is the 10th-highest island worldwide. It comprises about 200 small barren islets or large rocks, including Roques de Anaga, Roque de Garachico, and Fasnia, adding a further {{convert|213835|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on}} to the total area.<ref name="extension"/>

=== Origins and geological formation === thumb|upright|right|Tenerife formation Tenerife is a volcanic island that has risen from the ocean floor over the last 20 million years.<ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Geology of the Canary Islands – 1st Edition |url=https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-geology-of-the-canary-islands/troll/978-0-12-809663-5 |access-date=2021-06-28 |date=26 May 2016 |isbn=978-0-12-809663-5 |last1=Troll |first1=Valentin R. |last2=Carracedo |first2=Juan Carlos |publisher=Elsevier Science}}</ref>

Underwater fissural eruptions produced pillow lava, which are produced by the rapid cooling of the magma when it comes in contact with water, obtaining their peculiar shape. This pillow lava accumulated, constructing the base of the island underneath the sea. As this accumulation approached the water's surface, gases erupted from the magma due to the reduced surrounding pressure. The volcanic eruptions became more violent and had a more explosive character, and resulted in the formation of peculiar geological fragments.<ref name="enciclopedia"/>

After long-term accumulation of these fragments, the birth of the island occurred at the end of the Miocene epoch. The zones on Tenerife known as Macizo de Teno, Macizo de Anaga, and Macizo de Adeje were formed seven million years ago; these formations are called the ''Ancient Basaltic Series'' or ''Series I''. These zones were actually three separate islands lying in what is now the extreme west, east, and south of Tenerife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=2&lang=1&s=1&ID=160|title=Información del Cabildo de Tenerife|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109002153/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=2&lang=1&s=1&ID=160|archive-date=9 November 2007}}</ref>

A second volcanic cycle called the ''Post-Miocene Formations'' or ''Latest Series II, III, IV'' began three million years ago. This was a much more intense volcanic cycle that united the Macizo de Teno, Macizo de Anaga, and Macizo de Adeje into a single island. This new structure, called the ''Pre-Cañadas Structure'' (''Edificio pre-Cañadas''), would serve as the foundation for what is known as the ''Cañadas Structure I''. The Cañadas Structure I experienced various collapses and emitted explosive material that produced the area known as ''Bandas del sur'' (in the present-day south-southeast of Tenerife).<ref name=enciclopedia>{{cite web|url=http://www.gevic.net/info/contenidos/mostrar_contenidos.php?idcat=36&idcap=58&idcon=330 |title=Origen y formación – TENERIFE – (GEVIC) Gran Enciclopedia Virtual Islas Canarias |work=gevic.net|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref>

Subsequently, upon the ruins of Cañadas Structure I emerged ''Cañadas Structure II'', which was {{convert|2500|m}} above sea level and emerged with intense explosive activity. About one million years ago, the Dorsal Range (''Cordillera Dorsal'') emerged by means of fissural volcanic activity occurring amidst the remains of the older Ancient Basaltic Series (Series I). This Dorsal Range emerged as the highest and the longest volcanic structure in the Canary Islands; it was {{convert|1600|m}} high and {{convert|25|km}} long.<ref name=enciclopedia/>

About 800,000 years ago, two gravitational landslides occurred, giving rise to the present-day valleys of La Orotava and Güímar.<ref name=enciclopedia/> Finally, around 200,000 years ago, the giant Icod landslide occurred followed by eruptions that raised the ''Pico Viejo-Teide''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |title=Encyclopedia of Geology |chapter=North-East Atlantic Islands: The Macaronesian Archipelagos |date=2021 |pages=674–699 |doi=10.1016/B978-0-08-102908-4.00027-8 |isbn=978-0-08-102909-1 }}</ref> in the centre of the island, over the ''Las Cañadas caldera''.<ref name=enciclopedia/>

=== Orography and landscape === The uneven and steep orography of the island and its variety of climates has resulted in a diversity of landscapes and geographical and geological formations, from the Teide National Park with its extensive pine forests, juxtaposed against the volcanic landscape at the summit of Teide and Malpaís de Güímar, to the Acantilados de Los Gigantes (Cliffs of the Giants) with its vertical precipices. Semidesert areas exist in the south with drought-resistant plants. Other areas range from those protected and enclosed in mountains such as Montaña Roja and Montaña Pelada, the valleys and forests with subtropical vegetation and climate, to those with deep gorges and precipices, such as at Anaga and Teno.

==== Central Heights ==== The principal structures in Tenerife make the central highlands, with the Teide–Pico Viejo complex and the Las Cañadas areas as most prominent. It comprises a semi-caldera of about {{convert|130|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in area, originated by several geological processes explained under the ''Origin and formation'' section. The area is partially occupied by the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano and is completed by materials ejected during the various eruptions. A known formation called ''Los Azulejos'', composed by green-tinted rocks were created by hydrothermal processes.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

South of La Caldera is Guajara Mountain, which has an elevation of {{convert|2718|m|0|abbr=off}}, rising above Teide National Park. At the bottom is an endorheic basin flanked with very fine sedimentary material which has been deposited from its volcanic processes, and is known as Llano de Ucanca.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

The peak of Teide, at {{convert|3715|m|0|abbr=off}} above sea level and more than {{convert|7500|m|0|abbr=off}} above the ocean floor, is the highest point of the island, Spanish territory, and in the Atlantic Ocean. The volcano is the third largest on the planet, and its central location,{{Clarify|reason=what does central mean? Central to what?|date=November 2018}} substantial size, looming silhouette in the distance and its snowy landscape in winter give it a unique nature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csic.es/estudios_geol/archivo/vol5914/EGv59p015029dncwio.pdf|title=Estudio geológico sobre el Teide del CSIC|work=csic.es|access-date=18 April 2017}} {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The original settlers considered Teide a god and Teide was a place of worship.

In 1954, the entire area around it was designated a national park, with further expansion later. In addition, in June 2007 it was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1258|title=Teide National Park|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> To the west lies the volcano Pico Viejo (Old Peak). On one side of it is the volcano Chahorra o Narices del Teide, whose last eruption occurred near Mount Teide in 1798.

Teide is one of the 16 Decade Volcanoes identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as worthy of particular study due to its history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.

'''Tallest mountains on Tenerife:''' {| class="wikitable" !Peak !Elevation (meters) !Elevation (feet) |- |Mount Teide |3,715 |12,198 |- |Pico Viejo |3,135 |10,285 |- |Montaña Blanca |2,748 |9,016 |- |Guajara |2,718 |8,917 |}

==== Massifs ==== thumb|left|The uneven contours of the Anaga massif The Anaga massif (''Macizo de Anaga''), at the northeastern end of the island, has an irregular and rugged topographical profile where, despite its generally modest elevations, the Cruz de Taborno reaches a height of {{convert|1024|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Due to the age of its material (5.7 million years), its deep erosive processes, and the dense network of dikes piercing the massif, its surface exposes numerous outcroppings of both phonolitic and trachytic origin. A large number of steep-walled gorges are present, penetrating deeply into the terrain. Vertical cuts dominate the Anagan coast, with infrequent beaches of rocks or black sand between them; the few that exist generally coincide with the mouths of gorges.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name=enciclopedia/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

thumb|right|Teno massif—Cliffs of the Giants area

The Teno massif (''Macizo de Teno'') is located on the northwestern edge of the island. Like Anaga, it includes an area of outcroppings and deep gorges formed by erosion. However, the materials here are older (about 7.4 million years old). Mount Gala represents its highest elevation at {{convert|1342|m|ft|abbr=off}}. The most unusual landscape of this massif is found on its southern coast, where the Acantilados de Los Gigantes ("Cliffs of the Giants") present vertical walls reaching heights of {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=off}} in some places.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

The Adeje massif (''Macizo de Adeje'') is situated on the southern tip of the island. Its main landmark is the Roque del Conde ("Count's Rock"), with an elevation of {{convert|1001|m|ft|abbr=off}}. This massif is not as impressive as the others due to its diminished initial structure; in addition to the site's greater geologic age, it has undergone severe erosion, thereby losing its original appearance and extent.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

==== Dorsals ==== The Dorsal mountain ridge or ''Dorsal of Pedro Gil'' covers the area from the start at Mount La Esperanza, at a height of about {{convert|750|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, to the centre of the island, near the ''Caldera de Las Cañadas'', with Izaña, as its highest point at {{convert|2390|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (MSLP). These mountains were formed by basaltic fissural volcanism along one of the axes that gave rise to volcanism in this area.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

The Abeque Dorsal was formed by a chain of volcanoes that joins the Teno with the central insular peak of Teide-Pico Viejo, starting from another of the three axes of Tenerife's geological structures. On this dorsal we find the historic volcano of Chinyero, whose last eruption happened in 1909.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

The South Dorsal or ''Dorsal of Adeje'' is part of the last of the structural axes. The remains of this massive rock show the primordial land, also showing the alignment of small volcanic cones and rocks around this are in Tenerife's South.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

==== Valleys and ravines ==== Valleys are another of the island's features. The most important are Valle de La Orotava and Valle de Güímar, both formed by the mass sliding of great quantities of material towards the sea, creating a depression of the land. Other valleys tend to be between hills formed by sediment deposits from nearby slopes, or simply wide ravines that have, over time, become typical valleys.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

Tenerife has many ravines, a characteristic feature of the landscape caused by long-term erosion from surface runoff. Notable ravines include Ruiz, Fasnia, and Güímar, Infierno, and Erques, all of which have been designated protected natural areas by Canarian institutions.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/> [[File:Panom-puerto.jpg|thumb|upright=2.5|center|Panorama of Valle de La Orotava]]

==== Coastline ==== The coasts of Tenerife are typically rugged and steep, particularly on the north of the island. However, the island has {{convert|67.14|km|2|abbr=off}} of beaches, such as the one at El Médano, surpassed only in this respect by the island of Fuerteventura.<ref>[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/territorio_ambiente/area_01_frame.html Estadísticas del Gobierno de Canarias] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323155813/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fterritorio_ambiente%2Farea_01_frame.html |date=23 March 2010 }}</ref> There are many black sand pebble beaches on the northern coast, while on the south and south-west coast of the island, the beaches have typically much finer and clearer sand with lighter tones.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="enciclopedia"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

==== Volcanic tubes ==== Lava tubes are volcanic caves, usually in the form of tunnels, formed within lava flows of varying fluidity during the reogenética phase of the activity. Among the many existing volcanic tubes on the island stands out the Cueva del Viento, located in the northern town of Icod de los Vinos, which is the largest volcanic tunnel in the European Union and one of the largest in the world, for a long time considered the largest in the world.

== Flora and fauna == [[File:Chamorga, Macizo de Anaga, Tenerife, Spain 35.jpg|thumb|Chamorga, in the Macizo de Anaga]] [[File:The butterflies and moths of Teneriffe (1894) (20484502286).jpg|thumb|upright|''Lepidoptera'' illustrations in ''The butterflies and moths of Teneriffe'' (1894)]] The island of Tenerife has remarkable ecosystem diversity despite its small surface area, a consequence of its unique environmental conditions, in which its distinct orography modifies general climatic conditions at a local level, producing a significant variety of microclimates. This diversity of microclimates allows some 1400 species of plants to exist on the island, with well over 100 of these endemic to Tenerife.<ref name=florayfauna>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=3&lang=1&s=1&ID=164|title=Cabildo de Tenerife (Flora y Fauna: introducción)|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307145049/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=3&lang=1&s=1&ID=164|archive-date=7 March 2008}}</ref> The fauna of Tenerife includes some 400 species of fish, 56 birds, five reptiles, two amphibians, 13 land mammals, thousands of invertebrates, and several species of sea turtles and cetaceans.

The vegetation of Tenerife can be divided into six major zones that are directly related to altitude and the direction in which they face.

[[File:Luftbild vom Vulkan Chinyero auf Teneriffa, Spanien (48225246682).jpg|thumb|Forested areas populated by ''Pinus'' in {{ill|El Chinyero Special Nature Reserve|es|Reserva natural especial del Chinyero}}]] [[File:Eidechsen Teide.jpg|thumb|''Gallotia galloti'', a wall lizard species endemic to Tenerife]] * Lower xerophytic zone: {{convert|0|-|700|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Xerophytic shrubs that are well adapted to long dry spells, intense sunshine, and strong winds. Many endemic species: spurges, cactus spurge (''Euphorbia canariensis''), wax plants (''Ceropegia'' spp.), etc. * Thermophile forest: {{convert|200|-|600|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Transition zone with moderate temperatures and rainfall, but the area has been deteriorated by human activity. Many endemic species: juniper (''Juniperus cedrus''), dragon trees (''Dracaena draco''), palm trees (''Phoenix canariensis''), etc. * Laurel forest: {{convert|500|-|1,000|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Dense forest of large trees, descendants of tertiary age flora, situated in a zone of frequent rainfall and mists. A wide variety of species with abundant undergrowth of bushes, herbaceous plants, and ferns. Laurels, holly (''Ilex canariensis''), ebony (''Persea indica''), mahogany (''Apollonias barbujana''), etc. * Wax myrtle: {{convert|1,000|-|1,500|m|ft|abbr=off}}. A dryer vegetation, poorer in species. It replaces the degraded laurel forest. Of great forestry importance. Wax myrtles (''Myrica faya''), tree heath (''Erica arborea''), holly, etc. * Pine forest: {{convert|800|-|2,000|m|ft|abbr=off}}. Open pine forest, with thin and unvaried undergrowth. Canary Island pine (''Pinus canariensis''), broom (''Genista canariensis''), rock rose (''Cistus'' spp.), etc. * High mountain: over {{convert|2,000|m|abbr=off}}. Dry climate, intense solar radiation, and extreme temperatures. Flora is well adapted to the conditions.<ref name=florayfauna/>

=== Prehistoric fauna === thumb|Skull of ''Canariomys bravoi'' Before the arrival of humans, the Canary Islands were inhabited by certain endemic animals, many of which are now extinct. These animals reached larger than usual sizes because of a phenomenon called island gigantism. Among these species, the best known in Tenerife were: * The giant rat (''Canariomys bravoi''): Fossils mostly dating from the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Its skull reached up to 7 centimeters long, so it could have been the size of a rabbit, making it quite large compared to European rat species. Tenerife Giant Rat fossils usually occur in caves and volcanic tubes associated with ''Gallotia goliath''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html|title=GOBIERNO DE CANARIAS|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228151643/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/cmayot/medioambiente/lagartodelagomera/gatos.html|archive-date=28 December 2009}}</ref> * The slender-billed greenfinch (''Chloris aurelioi''), an extinct greenfinch from the Holocene.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rando |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Alcover |first2=Josep Antoni |last3=Illera |first3=Juan Carlos |title=Disentangling Ancient Interactions: A New Extinct Passerine Provides Insights on Character Displacement among Extinct and Extant Island Finches |journal=PLOS ONE |date=23 September 2010 |volume=5 |issue=9 |article-number=e12956 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0012956 |pmid=20886036 |pmc=2944890 |bibcode=2010PLoSO...512956R |doi-access=free }}</ref> * The long-legged bunting (''Emberiza alcoveri''), a flightless bunting with long legs and short wings known from Pleistocene to Holocene cave deposits, and one of the few flightless passerines known to science, all of which are now extinct.<ref name="Rando1999">{{cite journal |last1=Rando |first1=J. C. |last2=López |first2=M. |last3=Seguí |first3=B. |title=A New Species of Extinct Flightless Passerine (Emberizidae: Emberiza) from the Canary Islands |journal=The Condor |date=1999 |volume=101 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.2307/1370440 |jstor=1370440 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/condor/vol101/iss1/1/ }}</ref> * The giant lizard (''Gallotia goliath'') inhabited Tenerife from the Holocene until the fifteenth century AD. It was a specimen measuring 120 to 125 centimeters (47.2 to 49.2 inches) in length.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iehcan.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/3_Mart%C3%ADn_2006.pdf|title=Aportaciones de D. Telesforo Bravo al conocimiento de la fauna de vertebrados terrestres de las islas Canarias|work=iehcan.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> * The giant tortoise (''Geochelone burchardi''): A large tortoise, similar to those currently found in some oceanic islands like the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Remains date to the Miocene; this tortoise may have inhabited the island until the Upper Pleistocene, apparently becoming extinct due to volcanic events long before the arrival of humans. Its shell measured approximately {{convert|65|to|94|cm|abbr=off}}.<ref> [http://cubits.org/theextinctioncubit/db/extinctreptiles/view/18692/ The Recently Extinct Plants and Animals Database Extinct Reptiles: ''Geochelone burchardi''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619232217/http://cubits.org/theextinctioncubit/db/extinctreptiles/view/18692/ |date=19 June 2016 }} Consultado el 17 de junio de 2016. </ref>

=== Protected natural areas === thumb|upright=1.25|Map showing the classification of protected areas in Tenerife Nearly half of the island territory (48.6 percent),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/culturacanaria/espacios/espanat.htm#tenerife|title=LA PROTECCIÓN DE LOS ESPACIOS NATURALES EN CANARIAS|last=NTI|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> is under protection from the Red Canaria de Espacios Naturales Protegidos (Canary Islands Network for Protected Natural Areas). Of the 146 protected sites under control of the network in the Canary Islands archipelago,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/informacion/quees.html|title=Red Canaria de Espacios Naturales Protegidos – Información|work=gobcan.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121081945/http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/informacion/quees.html|archive-date=21 November 2016}}</ref> a total of 43 are located in Tenerife, the most protected island in the group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/informacion/tf_todo.html|title=Red Canaria de Espacios Naturales Protegidos – Información|work=gobcan.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521000208/http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/informacion/tf_todo.html|archive-date=21 May 2017}}</ref> The network has criteria that place areas under its observation under eight different categories of protection, all of which are represented in Tenerife. Aside from Parque Nacional del Teide, it includes the Parque Natural de Canarias (Crown Forest), two rural parks (Anaga and Teno), four integral natural reserves, six special natural reserves, a total of fourteen natural monuments, nine protected landscapes, and up to six sites of scientific interest. Also located on the island Macizo de Anaga since 2015 is the Biosphere Reserve,<ref name="efeverde.com"/> which has the largest number of endemic species in Europe.<ref name="efeverde.com"/>

In contrast to the land-based protected areas, Tenerife also boasts significant marine protected natural areas. Among these is the Zona de Especial Conservación Teno-Rasca (Teno-Rasca Special Area of Conservation), a marine protected area established in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=González Vilbazo|first=K.|date=2024|title=Tenerife: Europe's First Whale Sanctuary|website=AD Boat Rental|url=https://adboatrental.com/tenerife-europes-first-whale-sanctuary//}}</ref> This marine protected area off the coast of Tenerife is known for its ecological significance and biodiversity, including resident populations of cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales.<ref>{{cite web |date= January 2021|title=Two new whale heritage sites awarded, a major step for wildlife protection|url=https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/latest/news/two-new-whale-heritage-sites-awarded-major-step-wildlife-protection/}}</ref> It is also known as the Tenerife-La Gomera Marine Area and became the first European designated Whale Heritage Area in January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tillett|first=M.|title=Tenerife-La Gomera|website=World Cetacean Alliance|url=https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/tenerife-la-gomera/}}</ref>

== Administration ==

=== Law and order === thumb|upright|Building of the Presidency of the Canaries Autonomous Government in Santa Cruz Tenerife island's government resides with the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPZxPfEG93QwMDCwsDAyNXN1PfEA9_A4NAI6B8JG55TwMCuv088nNT9QtyI8oBAzGQKg!!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfSEk2TElLRzEwOE1RNzAySENTUDZSODFCTjQ!/|title=Cabildo de Tenerife|work=tenerife.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=25 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225110206/http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPZxPfEG93QwMDCwsDAyNXN1PfEA9_A4NAI6B8JG55TwMCuv088nNT9QtyI8oBAzGQKg!!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfSEk2TElLRzEwOE1RNzAySENTUDZSODFCTjQ!/}}</ref> located at the Plaza de España at the island's capital city (Palacio Insular de Tenerife). The political Canary organization does not have a provincial government body; instead, each island has its own government at its own Cabildo. Since its creation in March 1913, it has had a series of capabilities and duties, stated in the Canary Autonomy Statutes ({{langx|es|Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias|links=no}}) and regulated by Law 14/1990, of 26 July 1990, of the ''Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas de Canarias''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ic-l14-1990.t4.html|title=Ley 14/1990, de 26 de julio, de Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas de Canarias. TITULO IV. Los Cabildos Insulares.|work=juridicas.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

The Cabildo comprises the following administrative offices: the Presidency, the Legislative Body, the Government Council, the Informative Commissions, and the Spokesman's Office.

=== Government === Tenerife is an autonomous territory of Spain. The island has a tiered government system and special status within the European Union, with lower tax rates than other regions. Santa Cruz is the seat of half of the regional government departments and parliament, and it is there that the Canarian people elect the governor. Afterward, they are appointed by Madrid. 15 members of parliament work together to pass legislation, organize budgets, and improve the economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spain-tenerife.com/en/discover/facts/government.html|title=SpainTenerife|date=n.d.|website=spain-tenerife.com |publisher=SpainTenerife|access-date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

=== Municipalities === The island, itself part of a Spanish province named Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is divided administratively into 31 municipalities. It is the island with the most municipalities in the Canary archipelago.

Only three municipalities are landlocked: Tegueste, El Tanque and Vilaflor. Vilaflor is the municipality with the highest altitude in the Canaries (its capital is {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=out}} high).

The largest municipality with an area of {{convert|207.31|km2|abbr=off}} is La Orotava, which covers much of the Teide National Park. The smallest town on the island and of the archipelago is Puerto de la Cruz, with an area of {{convert|8.73|km2|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name="extension"/>

It is also common to find internal division, with some cities forming a metropolitan area within a municipality, notably Santa Cruz and La Laguna.

Below is an alphabetical list of all the municipalities on the island:

thumb|right|upright=1.25|Map of Municipalities in the island of Tenerife {| class="wikitable sortable" ! rowspan="2" | Name ! rowspan="2" | Area (km2) ! colspan="3" | Census Population ! rowspan="2" | Estimated Population (2023)<ref>Estimate of 1 January 2023: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref> |- ! 2001<ref>Census of 1 November 2001: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref> ! 2011<ref>Census of 1 November 2011: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref> ! 2021<ref>Census of 1 January 2021: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref> |- |Adeje | align="right" |105.95 | align="right" |20,255 | align="right" |42,886 | align="right" |48,822 | align="right" |50,523 |- |Arafo | align="right" |33.92 | align="right" |4,995 | align="right" |5,509 | align="right" |5,593 | align="right" |5,760 |- |Arico | align="right" |178.76 | align="right" |5,824 | align="right" |7,688 | align="right" |8,343 | align="right" |9,049 |- |Arona | align="right" |81.79 | align="right" |40,826 | align="right" |75,484 | align="right" |83,097 | align="right" |86,497 |- |Buenavista del Norte | align="right" |67.42 | align="right" |4,972 | align="right" |4,827 | align="right" |4,765 | align="right" |4,720 |- |Candelaria | align="right" |49.18 | align="right" |14,247 | align="right" |25,928 | align="right" |28,614 | align="right" |28,876 |- |Fasnia | align="right" |45.11 | align="right" |2,407 | align="right" |2,961 | align="right" |2,821 | align="right" |2,991 |- |Garachico | align="right" |29.28 | align="right" |5,307 | align="right" |5,035 | align="right" |4,921 | align="right" |4,975 |- |Granadilla de Abona | align="right" |162.40 | align="right" |21,135 | align="right" |41,209 | align="right" |52,401 | align="right" |55,505 |- |La Guancha | align="right" |23.77 | align="right" |5,193 | align="right" |5,422 | align="right" |5,528 | align="right" |5,562 |- |Guía de Isora | align="right" |143.40 | align="right" |14,982 | align="right" |19,734 | align="right" |21,871 | align="right" |22,478 |- |Güímar | align="right" |102.90 | align="right" |15,271 | align="right" |18,244 | align="right" |21,001 | align="right" |21,558 |- |Icod de los Vinos | align="right" |95.90 | align="right" |21,748 | align="right" |23,314 | align="right" |23,492 | align="right" |24,117 |- |La Matanza de Acentejo | align="right" |14.11 | align="right" |7,053 | align="right" |8,677 | align="right" |9,134 | align="right" |9,114 |- |La Orotava | align="right" |207.31 | align="right" |37,738 | align="right" |41,552 | align="right" |42,546 | align="right" |42,667 |- |Puerto de la Cruz | align="right" |8.73 | align="right" |26,441 | align="right" |31,349 | align="right" |30,326 | align="right" |31,396 |- |Los Realejos | align="right" |57.08 | align="right" |33,438 | align="right" |37,517 | align="right" |37,256 | align="right" |37,543 |- |El Rosario | align="right" |39.43 | align="right" |13,462 | align="right" |17,247 | align="right" |17,559 | align="right" |17,905 |- |San Cristóbal de La Laguna | align="right" |102.60 | align="right" |128,822 | align="right" |152,025 | align="right" |158,117 | align="right" |159,576 |- |San Juan de la Rambla | align="right" |20.67 | align="right" |4,782 | align="right" |5,042 | align="right" |4,892 | align="right" |4,939 |- |San Miguel de Abona | align="right" |42.04 | align="right" |8,398 | align="right" |16,465 | align="right" |22,057 | align="right" |23,007 |- |Santa Cruz de Tenerife | align="right" |150.56 | align="right" |188,477 | align="right" |204,476 | align="right" |208,103 | align="right" |208,906 |- |Santa Úrsula | align="right" |22.59 | align="right" |10,803 | align="right" |14,079 | align="right" |15,043 | align="right" |15,282 |- |Santiago del Teide | align="right" |52.21 | align="right" |9,303 | align="right" |10,689 | align="right" |11,101 | align="right" |12,072 |- |El Sauzal | align="right" |18.31 | align="right" |7,689 | align="right" |8,988 | align="right" |8,938 | align="right" |9,161 |- |Los Silos | align="right" |24.23 | align="right" |5,150 | align="right" |4,909 | align="right" |4,694 | align="right" |4,677 |- |Tacoronte | align="right" |30.09 | align="right" |20,295 | align="right" |23,623 | align="right" |24,365 | align="right" |24,701 |- |El Tanque | align="right" |23.65 | align="right" |2,966 | align="right" |2,814 | align="right" |2,862 | align="right" |2,810 |- |Tegueste | align="right" |26.41 | align="right" |9,417 | align="right" |10,908 | align="right" |11,346 | align="right" |11,375 |- |La Victoria de Acentejo | align="right" |18.36 | align="right" |7,920 | align="right" |8,947 | align="right" |9,172 | align="right" |9,223 |- |Vilaflor de Chasna | align="right" |56.26 | align="right" |1,718 | align="right" |1,785 | align="right" |1,790 | align="right" |1,850 |- style="background-color:#F6F6F6; font-weight:bold;" |Totals | align="right" |2,034.42 | align="right" |701,034 | align="right" |879,303 | align="right" |930,570 | align="right" |948,815 |}

=== Counties === The counties of Tenerife have no official recognition, but there is a consensus among geographers about them:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gevic.net/info/capitulos_cat.php?idcategoria=61|title=>> GEVIC << Gran Enciclopedia Virtual Islas Canarias|work=gevic.net|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> {{div col |colwidth=11em}} *Abona *Acentejo *Anaga *Valle de Güímar *Icod *Isora *Valle de La Orotava *Teno {{div col end}}

=== Flags and heraldry === [[File:Flag of Tenerife.svg|thumb|upright|Flag of Tenerife]] The flag of Tenerife was originally adopted in 1845 by the navy at its base in the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Later, and at present, this flag represents the entire island of Tenerife. It was approved by the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife and the Order of the Government of the Canary Islands on 9 May 1989, and published on 22 May in the government report of the Canary Islands, and made official.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/boc/1989/070/007.html|title=BOC – 1989/070. Lunes 22 de Mayo de 1989 – 496|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

thumb|upright|Coat-of-arms of Tenerife The coat-of-arms of Tenerife was granted by royal decree on 23 March 1510 by Ferdinand II at Madrid in the name of Joan I, Queen of Castile. The coat of arms has a field of gold, with an image of Saint Michael (patron saint of the island) above a mountain depicted in natural brownish hues. Flames erupt from the mountain, symbolizing El Teide. Below this mountain, the island itself is depicted in vert on blue and silver waves. To the right, there is a castle in gules, and to the left, a lion rampant in gules. The shield used by the Cabildo Insular, or Island Government, is slightly different from that of the city government of La Laguna, which features a motto in the arms' border and also includes palm branches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=1&lang=1&s=1&ID=3559|title=Información del Cabildo de Tenerife|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108084117/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=1&lang=1&s=1&ID=3559|archive-date=8 November 2007}}</ref>

== Natural symbols == {{Main|List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands}}

The official natural symbols associated with Tenerife are the bird blue chaffinch (''Fringilla teydea'') and the Canary Islands dragon tree (''Dracaena draco'') tree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html|title=BOC – 1991/061. Viernes 10 de Mayo de 1991 – 577|work=gobcan.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" mode="packed"> File:Teidefink.jpg|''Fringilla teydea'' File:Dracaena draco.jpg|''Dracaena draco'' </gallery>

== Demographics == {| class="toc" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="30%" style="float: right; text-align: center; clear: all; margin-left: 20px; font-size: 90%;" ! bgcolor="#000000" colspan="8" style="color: white;"|Foreign nationalities (2018)<ref>[http://obiten.es/api/documents/file/43 Nuevas tendencias de la inmigración en Tenerife] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102162837/http://obiten.es/api/documents/file/43 |date=2 January 2020 }} — Sección de Estadística. Orígenes nacionales con m��s de dos mil efectivos en Tenerife en 2018 y su comparativa con 2001.</ref> |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! width="3%" | Position ! width="89%" | Nationality ! width="8%" | Population |- |1||align="center" | Venezuela || align="right" |42,586 |- |2||align="center" | Italy || align="right" |19,224 |- |3||align="center" | Cuba || align="right" |17,745 |- |4||align="center" | United Kingdom || align="right" |12,321 |- |5||align="center" | Germany || align="right" |9,590 |- |6||align="center" | Colombia || align="right" |8,188 |- |7||align="center" | Argentina || align="right" |8,104 |- |8||align="center" | Morocco || align="right" |5,656 |- |9||align="center" | Uruguay || align="right" |4,773 |- |10||align="center" | China || align="right" |3,832 |- |11||align="center" | Romania || align="right" |3,761 |- |12||align="center" | France || align="right" |3,490 |- |13||align="center" | Belgium || align="right" |2,760 |- |14||align="center" | India || align="right" |2,404 |- |15||align="center" | Ecuador || align="right" |2,073 |- |}

According to INE data as at 1 January 2024, Tenerife has the largest population of the seven Canary Islands and was the most populated island of Spain with 964,021 officially estimated inhabitants,<ref name="popdataboe">{{cite web |year=2019 |title=Real Decreto 1458/2018, de 14 de diciembre, por el que se declaran oficiales las cifras de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal referidas al 1 de enero de 2019 |trans-title=Royal Decree 1458/2018, of 14 December, by which the population numbers resulting from the review of the municipal register as of 01 January 2019 are declared official |url=https://boe.es/boe/dias/2018/12/29/pdfs/BOE-A-2018-18083.pdf |access-date=2019-07-18 |publisher=Ministerio de Economía y Empresa |language=es}}</ref> of whom about 22.0 percent (211,436) lived in the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and 40 percent in the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz–La Laguna.<ref name="audes">Datos del proyecto AUDES5 {{cite web |url=http://alarcos.inf-cr.uclm.es/per/fruiz/pobesp/ |title=Población de España – datos y mapas (áreas urbanas) |access-date=2012-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209063130/http://alarcos.inf-cr.uclm.es/per/fruiz/pobesp/ |archive-date=9 February 2012 |language=es |trans-title=Population of Spain – data and maps (urban areas) }}</ref> Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna are physically one urban area, so that together (and including Tegueste and El Rosario) they have a population of 581,947 inhabitants.<ref> {{Cite web |url=http://www.webtenerife.com/NR/rdonlyres/CF59C0DB-7872-42B4-9206-D61390728073/5750/SantaCruzyLaLagunadosciudadesyunmill%C3%B3ndeopciones.pdf |title=Dos ciudades, una Isla y un millón de opciones |access-date=15 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716063120/http://www.webtenerife.com/NR/rdonlyres/CF59C0DB-7872-42B4-9206-D61390728073/5750/SantaCruzyLaLagunadosciudadesyunmill%C3%B3ndeopciones.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 }} </ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%20sin%20perderte%20nada/Informacion%20practica/Antes%20de%20viajar/Zonas%20turisticas/SANTA%20CRUZ-LA%20LAGUNA.htm|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017}} {{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Tenerife has two other metropolitan areas recognized by the Ministry of Development; the Tenerife South metropolitan area with 215,532 inhabitants (2024) and the La Orotava Valley metropolitan area with 111,606 inhabitants (2024).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://publicaciones.transportes.gob.es/areas-urbanas-en-espa%C3%B1a-2024 |title=Ficha detallada con las GAU de España |access-date=11 February 2024 }}</ref>

After the city of Santa Cruz the major towns and municipalities as at the start of 2024 are San Cristóbal de La Laguna (160,258), Arona (86,624), Granadilla de Abona (57,143), Adeje (50,549), La Orotava (42,585), Los Realejos (37,522) and Puerto de la Cruz (31,377). All other municipalities have fewer than 30,000 inhabitants; the smallest municipality is Vilaflor, with a population of 1,501.

The island has a high rate of resident population not registered in population censuses, primarily tourists. This has led several sources to note that more than 1 million inhabitants live on the island of Tenerife today.<ref>[https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2017/07/un-millon-de-habitantes/ Un millón de habitantes]</ref> The island is also the most multicultural in the archipelago, with the highest number of registered foreigners (44.9% of registered in Canary Islands), which represent 14% of the total population of the island.<ref>[https://www.eldia.es/tenerife/2010-01-18/5-Tenerife-isla-extranjeros-empadronados.htm Tenerife, la isla con más extranjeros empadronados]</ref> Tenerife stands out in the context of the archipelago by also concentrating the largest presence of non-EU foreign population.<ref>[https://www.canarias7.es/sociedad/el-11-83-de-los-empadronados-en-canarias-son-extranjeros-IK4518785 El 11,83 % de los empadronados en Canarias son extranjeros]</ref>

Tenerife has three large population areas that are very different and distributed: The Metropolitan Zone, the South Zone, and the North Zone. With several protected natural parks — 48.6% of the territory — and an urban swarm around the island, the insular coastal platform has become a highly urbanized metropolitan system over the last half-century. The high level of population in a relatively small territory — more than 900,000 inhabitants in just over {{Cvt|2000|km2}} — and the strong urbanization have turned the island of Tenerife, in the words of architect Federico García Barba; on an "island-city" or "island-ring".<ref>[http://www.garciabarba.com/islasterritorio/tenerife-isla-ciudad/ Tenerife, isla ciudad]</ref><ref>[https://elpais.com/sociedad/2019/05/20/actualidad/1558351241_121815.html El caos circulatorio en Tenerife atrapa a 200.000 personas al día]</ref>

thumb|Demographic evolution of Tenerife|left Recently, Tenerife has experienced population growth significantly higher than the national average. In 1990, there were 663,306 registered inhabitants, which increased to 709,365 in 2000, a rise of 46,059, or an annual growth rate of 0.69 percent. However, between 2000 and 2007, the population rose by 155,705 to 865,070, an annual increase of 3.14 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=/istac/estadisticas/poblacion/area_02_frame.html|title=Evolución histórica de la población de Tenerife (ISTAC)|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113143515/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas/php/saltarA.php?mid=%2Fistac%2Festadisticas%2Fpoblacion%2Farea_02_frame.html|archive-date=13 November 2010}}</ref>

These results reflect the general trend in Spain, where, since 2000, immigration has reversed the slowdown in population growth that followed the collapse in the birth rate from 1976. However, since 2001, the overall growth rate in Spain has been around 1.7 percent per year, compared with 3.14 percent on Tenerife, one of the largest increases in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es|title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (Spanish Statistical Office)|work=ine.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

The increase in homelessness is becoming a chronic and controversial problem in Tenerife. According to Caritas data from May 2026, there are more than 2,800 people experiencing homelessness on the island. The majority are concentrated in the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which alone accounts for more than a third of the total, with approximately 998 people. It is also the municipality in the Canary Islands with the highest number of homeless people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.laprovincia.es/sociedad/2024/10/10/situacion-sinhogarismo-canarias-dicen-diferentes-expertos-dv-109159145.html|title=¿Cuál es el municipio de Canarias con mayor número de personas sin hogar? Esto es lo que dicen diferentes expertos|date=10 October 2024|work=laprovincia.es|language=es|access-date=14 May 2026}}</ref> San Cristóbal de La Laguna follows with 357 people. After these metropolitan municipalities (which together account for 47.5% of the island's total), there are tourist municipalities in the south such as Arona, Adeje, and Granadilla de Abona, and one northern municipality, Puerto de la Cruz.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eldia.es/tenerife/2026/05/12/crisis-vivienda-tenerife-empuja-2-130147519.html|title=La crisis de la vivienda en Tenerife empuja a más 2.800 personas a sobrevivir en vehículos, chabolas o a la intemperie|date=14 May 2026|work=eldia.es|language=es|access-date=12 May 2026}}</ref> Behind these situations of extreme housing exclusion lie multiple factors, such as the breakdown of family networks, unemployment, difficulties accessing housing, addictions, and mental health problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/tenerifeahora/sociedad/personas-sin-hogar-en-tenerife-caritas_1_13215454.html|title=Cáritas identifica a más de 2.500 personas sin hogar en Tenerife e insiste en abordar la realidad “desde una perspectiva de salud pública”|date=14 May 2026|work=eldiaro.es|language=es|access-date=12 May 2026}}</ref>

== Economy == thumb|right|Harbour Tenerife is the economic capital of the Canary Islands.<ref name="Datos corporativos de CajaCanarias">{{cite web|url=http://www.cajacanarias.es/s_dato_2.htm|title=Datos corporativos de CajaCanarias|work=cajacanarias.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720133822/http://www.cajacanarias.es/s_dato_2.htm|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> At present, Tenerife is the island with the highest GDP in the archipelago (~€25 billion) and has a GDP per capita of ~€26,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montero |first=M. Á |date=2025-04-12 |title=¿Cuáles son las islas más ricas y más pobres de Canarias? |url=https://www.laprovincia.es/economia/2025/04/12/son-islas-ricas-pobres-canarias-116323613.html |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas |language=es}}</ref> Even though Tenerife's economy is highly specialized in the service sector, which makes 78% of its total production capacity, the importance of the rest of the economic sectors is key to its production development. In this sense, the primary sector, which accounts for only 1.98% of total output, encompasses activities important to the sustainable development of the island's economy. The energy sector, which contributes 2.85%, plays a primary role in the development of renewable energy sources. The industrial sector, which accounts for 5.80%, is a growing activity on the island, vis-à-vis the new possibilities created by technological advances. Finally, the construction sector, with 11.29% of total production, is a strategic priority because it is relatively stable and offers multiple avenues for development and employment.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [https://canariasacross.com/pdf/Economia_de_Tenerife.pdf Informe elaborado por el Observatorio Económico de Tenerife (SOFITESA)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107102653/https://canariasacross.com/pdf/Economia_de_Tenerife.pdf|date=7 January 2024}}</ref>

=== Tourism === [[File:Puertodelacruztf.JPG|thumb|Puerto de la Cruz, in the North, during winter, featuring background snowy mountains]] Tourism is the most prominent industry in the Canaries, which are among the world's major tourist destinations. Tenerife is the most visited island in the archipelago<ref name="20 Minutos"/> and one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain.<ref name="riull.ull.es"/>

In 2014, 11,473,600 foreign tourists came to the Canary Islands. Tenerife had 4,171,384 arrivals that year, excluding Spanish tourists, who accounted for an additional 30% of total arrivals. According to the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC) Report on Tourism, the largest number of tourists came from the United Kingdom, with more than 3,980,000 in 2014. In second place comes Germany, followed by Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, and Austria.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Tourism is more prevalent in the south of the island, which is hotter and drier, with many large resorts such as Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. More recently, coastal development has spread northwards from Playa de las Americas and now encompasses the former small enclave of La Caleta. According to the ''Moratoria'' act passed by the Canarian Parliament in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, no more hotels will be built on the island unless they are classified as 5-star quality and include services such as golf courses or convention facilities. This act was passed to improve the standard of tourism services and promote environmentally conscious development.

thumb|Sunset at the beach Playa de Las Américas, Tenerife The area known as Costa Adeje has many facilities and leisure opportunities such as shopping centres, golf courses, restaurants, water parks (the most well-known being Siam Park), animal parks, and a theatre suitable for musicals or a convention centre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Asher |first=Michael |date=20 March 2022 |title=5 Things To Do In The Canary Islands – Travel |work=Info1 |url=https://info1.net/5-things-to-do-in-the-canary-islands-202218401/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> There are many boats offering whale watching tours from the harbour of Puerto Colon. The deep waters off the coast of Costa Adeje are home to several pods of pilot whales.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 March 2019|title=A complete guide to the whale and dolphin watching tours in Tenerife|url=https://talesfromthelens.com/ultimate-guide-whale-and-dolphin-watching-in-tenerife/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Tales From The Lens|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the more lush, green north of the island, the main focus of tourism development has been the town of Puerto de la Cruz. Puerto de la Cruz is home to the SeaWorld-owned zoo, Loro Parque,<ref name="tripadvisor.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Attractions-cZoos-g1|title=Best Zoos – the World – TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards|website=tripadvisor.com|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref> which has been accused of mistreatment of animals in its captivity, including orcas<ref name="Daily Express article - Water park accused of 'cruelty' as images emerge of killer whales covered in scars">{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/600445/British-tourists-Canary-Islands-Spanish-water-park-SeaWorld-orca-cruelty|title=Water park accused of 'cruelty' as images emerge of killer whales covered in scars|website=Daily Express|date=25 August 2015|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref> and is currently boycotted by major travel agents including Thomas Cook.<ref name="BBC article - Thomas Cook axes trips to SeaWorld over animal welfare concerns">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44997389|title=Thomas Cook axes trips to SeaWorld over animal welfare concerns|work=BBC News|date=29 July 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref>

In the 19th century, large numbers of foreign tourists came, especially British tourists, who showed interest in the islands' agriculture. With the world wars, the tourism sector weakened, but the second half of the 20th century brought renewed interest. The initial emphasis was on Puerto de la Cruz and all the attractions the Valle de la Orotava had to offer. By 1980, tourism was focused on south Tenerife. The emphasis was on cities like Arona or Adeje, shifting to tourist centres such as Los Cristianos or Playa de Las Americas, which now host 65% of the island's hotels. Tenerife receives more than 5 million tourists every year; among the Canary Islands, it is the most popular.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref>[http://www.webtenerife.com/NR/rdonlyres/AC31568D-687A-4B60-9FC2-389A90B1A728/6179/webTurismoenCifras2007.xls#'Menú Principal'!A1 Estadísticas de Turismo de Tenerife] {{Dead link|date=February 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} </ref>

Currently, the municipality of Adeje in the south of the island has the highest concentration of 5 star hotels in Europe<ref>[https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2018/06/las-nuevas-catedrales-del-turismo-en-tenerife/ Las nuevas 'catedrales' del turismo en Tenerife]</ref> and also has what is considered the best luxury hotel in Spain according to ''World Travel Awards''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Es |first1=Eleconomista |url=http://www.eleconomista.es/evasion/noticias/9254628/07/18/Tenerife-tiene-el-mejor-hotel-de-lujo-de-Espana.html |title=Tenerife tiene el mejor hotel de lujo de España |access-date=7 July 2018 |archive-date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707172409/http://www.eleconomista.es/evasion/noticias/9254628/07/18/Tenerife-tiene-el-mejor-hotel-de-lujo-de-Espana.html }}</ref>

=== Agriculture and fishing === [[File:Bananen von Teneriffa, Spanien (48225526077).jpg|thumb|right|Banana plantations in the western coastline (Guía de Isora)]] Since tourism dominates the Tenerifan economy, the service sector is the largest. Industry and commerce contribute 40% of the non-tourist economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=9&s=1&lang=1&ID=2755|title=Página oficial de Turismo de Tenerife|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110000250/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=9&lang=1&s=1&ID=2755|archive-date=10 November 2007}}</ref> Agriculture contributes less than 10% of the island's GDP, but its contribution is vital as it also generates indirect benefits by maintaining the rural appearance of the island and supporting Tenerifan cultural values.

Agriculture is centred on the northern slopes, and is affected by altitude as well as orientation: in the coastal zone, tomatoes and bananas are cultivated, these high-yielding products are for export to mainland Spain and the rest of Europe; in the drier intermediate zone, potatoes, tobacco, and maize are grown; whilst in the south, onions are important.<ref name=naturaycultura/>

Bananas are a particularly important crop, as Tenerife grows more bananas than the other Canary Islands, with a current annual production of about 150,000 tons, down from the peak production of 200,000 tons in 1986. More than 90% of the total is destined for the international market, and banana growing occupies about 4200 hectares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.platanodecanarias.net/esp/asprocan/asprocan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194646/http://www.platanodecanarias.net/esp/asprocan/asprocan.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|title=Estadísticas de la Asociación de Productores de Plátanos de Canarias (ASPROCAN)|work=platanodecanarias.net|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> After the banana, the most important crops are, in order of importance, tomatoes, grapes, potatoes, and flowers. Fishing is also a major contributor to the Tenerifan economy, as the Canaries are Spain's second most important fishing grounds.

===Energy=== As of 2009, Tenerife had 910 MW of electrical generation capacity, mostly powered by petroleum-derived fuels. The island had 37 MW of wind turbines and 79 MW of solar panels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://atlastenerife.es/portalweb/en/isla-de-infraestructuras/power-generation-and-transportation |title=Power generation and transportation |work=Atlas Digital de Tenerife |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226125342/http://atlastenerife.es/portalweb/en/isla-de-infraestructuras/power-generation-and-transportation }}</ref>

=== Industry and commerce === Commerce in Tenerife plays a significant role in the economy, accounting for almost 20% of GDP, with the commercial centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife generating most of the earnings. Although there is a diversity of industrial estates on the island, the most important industrial activity is petroleum, which accounts for 10% of the island's GDP, largely due to the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with its refinery. It provides petroleum products not only to the Canary Islands but also to the markets of the Iberian Peninsula, Africa, and South America.

== Main sights ==

=== Monuments === [[File:Castillo o Torre de San Andrés.jpg|thumb|Castle of San Andrés, declared of National Tourist Interest Centre]] Historical sights in the island, especially from the time after the conquest, include the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the Church of the Conception of La Laguna and the Church of the Conception in the capital. The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria can be found on the island (Patron of the Canary Islands). Also on the island are the defensive castles located in the village of San Andrés, as well as many others throughout the island.

The Auditorio de Tenerife, one of the most modern in Spain, is located at the entrance to the capital (in the southern part of the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Near the Auditorio de Tenerife are El Castillo Negro and El Parque Marítimo. The Torres de Santa Cruz are two twin skyscrapers {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=off}} high (the highest residential buildings in Spain and the tallest skyscrapers in the Canary Islands).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pgigrup.net/ingenieria_obras_ficha.asp?idioma_web=esp&id=286&tipo=&superficie=&pd=&cd=&po=&co=|title=phpMyAdmin|work=pgigrup.net|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305092737/http://pgigrup.net/ingenieria_obras_ficha.asp?cd=&co=&id=286&idioma_web=esp&pd=&po=&superficie=&tipo=}}</ref>

=== Archeological sites === The island also has several archaeological sites from Guanche times (before the conquest), primarily cave paintings scattered throughout the island, most of which are found in the south.

Archaeological sites on the island include the Cave of the Guanches, where the oldest remains in the archipelago have been found,<ref name=A>{{cite web|url=http://turismo.opennemas.com/articulo/cultura/protohistoria-tenerife/20140816110120000286.html|title=Protohistoria de Tenerife|first=Turiscom CIT: turismo y|last=viajes|work=opennemas.com|date=16 August 2014 |access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> dating to the 6th century BC,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museosdetenerife.org/assets/downloads/publication-c408de300b.pdf|title=Palomas y Los Guanches. Sobre el poblamiento y las estrategias de alimentación vegetal entre los guanches|work=museosdetenerife.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> and the Caves of Don Gaspar, where the finding of plant debris in the form of carbonized seeds indicates that the Guanches practiced agriculture on the island.<ref name="A"/> Both deposits are in the town of Icod de los Vinos. Also noteworthy on the island is the Estación solar de Masca (''Masca Solar Station''), an aboriginal sanctuary for rites related to fertility and the request for rainwater. This is located in the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.

Other archaeological sites include that of Los Cambados and that of El Barranco del Rey both in Arona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patrimonionacional.biz/provincia/45/tenerife|title=Monumentos y patrimonio de Tenerife|work=patrimonionacional.biz|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618063842/http://www.patrimonionacional.biz/provincia/45/tenerife/|archive-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> One could also highlight the Cueva de Achbinico (first shrine Marian of the Canary Islands, Guanche vintage-Spanish). In addition, there are some buildings known as the Güímar Pyramids, whose origins are uncertain.

Some traces reveal the Punic presence on the island, as in the wake commonly called "Stone of the Guanches" in the town of Taganana. This archaeological site consists of a large outdoor stone block with rock carvings on its surface. Among these is the presence of a representation of the Carthaginian goddess Tanit,<ref name="Canarias Arqueológica">{{cite web|url=http://www.museosdetenerife.org/assets/downloads/publication-91c537fbbe.pdf|title=Canarias Arqueológica.|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> represented by a bottle-shaped symbol surrounded by cruciform motifs. It is thought that the monument was originally an altar of sacrifice linked to those found in the Semitic<ref name="Canarias Arqueológica"/> field and then reused for Aboriginal ritual of mummification.<ref name="Canarias Arqueológica"/>

== Culture and arts ==

=== Literature === In the 16th and 17th centuries, Antonio de Viana, a native of La Laguna, composed the epic poem ''Antigüedades de las Islas Afortunadas'' (''Antiquities of the Fortunate Isles''), a work of value to anthropologists, since it sheds light on Canarian life of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mundoguanche.com/portada/articulo.php?id_articulo=110|title=Revista multimedia (Mundo Guanche)|work=mundoguanche.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> The Enlightenment reached Tenerife, and literary and artistic figures of this era include José Viera y Clavijo, Tomás de Iriarte y Oropesa, Ángel Guimerá y Jorge, Mercedes Pinto and Domingo Pérez Minik, amongst others.

=== Painting === [[File:Tomas de Iriarte Joaquin Inza.jpg|thumb|upright|Tomás de Iriarte y Oropesa]] During the course of the 16th century, several painters flourished in La Laguna, as well as in other places on the island, including Garachico, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Orotava, and Puerto de la Cruz. Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana and Gaspar de Quevedo, considered the best Canarian painters of the 17th century, were natives of La Orotava, and their art can be found in churches on Tenerife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/culturacanaria/arte/arte.htm|title=ARTE EN CANARIAS|last=NTI|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

The work of Luis de la Cruz y Ríos can be found in the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, in Puerto de la Cruz. Born in 1775, he became court painter to Ferdinand VII of Spain and was also a miniaturist, and achieved a favorable position in the royal court. He was known there by the nickname of "El Canario".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puertodelacruz.es/puerto/front_end/articulo.php?id_Art=103&idioma=1|title=Página oficial del ayuntamiento de Puerto de la Cruz|work=puertodelacruz.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302194554/http://www.puertodelacruz.es/puerto/front_end/articulo.php?id_Art=103|archive-date=2 March 2007}}</ref>

The landscape painter Valentín Sanz (born 1849) was a native of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the ''Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes de Santa Cruz'' displays many of his works. This museum also contains the works of Juan Rodríguez Botas (1880–1917), considered the first Canarian impressionist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Zonas/Tenerife%20Norte/Valle%20de%20La%20Orotava%20Puerto%20de%20La%20Cruz/Mas%20sobre%20Tenerife/Arte%20y%20cultura/Artes%20plasticas/Artistas/Juan%20Rodr%C3%ADguez%20Botas.htm|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015010101/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Zonas/Tenerife%2BNorte/Valle%2Bde%2BLa%2BOrotava%2BPuerto%2Bde%2BLa%2BCruz/Mas%2Bsobre%2BTenerife/Arte%2By%2Bcultura/Artes%2Bplasticas/Artistas/Juan%2BRodr%C3%ADguez%2BBotas.htm|archive-date=15 October 2008}}</ref>

Frescoes by the expressionist Mariano de Cossío can be found in the church of Santo Domingo, in La Laguna. The watercolourist Francisco Bonnín Guerín (born 1874) was a native of Santa Cruz and founded a school to encourage the arts. Óscar Domínguez was born in La Laguna in 1906 and is famed for his versatility. He belonged to the surrealist school, and invented the technique known as ''decalcomania''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/DOMINGUEZ/_oSCAR_/PINTOR/CANARIAS/CAAM/rescata/inexplicable/olvido/figura/oscar/Dominguez/elpepicul/19960124elpepicul_7/Tes/|title=El CAAM rescata del 'inexplicable olvido' la figura de Óscar Domínguez|date=24 January 1996|work=El País|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

=== Sculpture === The arrival from Seville of Martín de Andújar Cantos, an architect and sculptor, brought new sculpting techniques of the Seville school, which were passed down to his students, including Blas García Ravelo, a native of Garachico. He had been trained by the master sculptor Juan Martínez Montañés.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cofradiadelnazareno.com/el_escultor.php|title=Cofradía del Nazareno (Los Realejos)|work=cofradiadelnazareno.com|access-date=18 April 2017|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006070755/http://www.cofradiadelnazareno.com/el_escultor.php|archive-date=6 October 2008}}</ref>

Other notable sculptors from the 17th and 18th centuries include Sebastián Fernández Méndez, Lázaro González de Ocampo, José Rodríguez de la Oliva, and most importantly, Fernando Estévez, a native of La Orotava and a student of Luján Pérez. Estévez contributed an extensive collection of religious images and woodcarvings, found in numerous churches of Tenerife, such as the Principal Parish of Saint James the Great (''Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago''), in Los Realejos; in the Cathedral of La Laguna; the ''Iglesia de la Concepción'' in La Laguna; the basilica of Candelaria, and various churches in La Orotava.

=== Music === thumb|left|upright|Canarian timple An important musician from Tenerife is Teobaldo Power y Lugo Viña, a native of Santa Cruz and a pianist and composer, and author of the ''Cantos Canarios''.<ref name=teobaldopower>{{cite book | last=Alemán|first=Gilberto|title=Teobaldo Power|date=2003 |publisher=Idea|isbn=978-84-96161-15-3}}</ref> The Hymn of the Canary Islands takes its melody from the ''Arrorró'', or Lullaby, from Power y Lugo Viña's ''Cantos Canarios''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parcan.es/himno/|title=Himno de Canarias|work=parcan.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

Folkloric music has also flourished on the island, and, as in the rest of the islands, is characterized by the use of the Canarian Timple, the guitar, bandurria, laúd, and various percussion instruments. Local folkloric groups such as Los Sabandeños work to preserve Tenerife's musical forms amid increasing cultural pressure from the mainland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldia.es/2007-06-14/cultura/cultura10.htm|title=De asociación a marca|date=14 June 2007|work=eldia.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

Tenerife is the home to the types of songs called the ''isa'', ''folía'', ''tajaraste'', and ''malagueña'', which are a cross of ancient Guanche songs and those of Andalusia and Latin America.

=== Architecture === [[File:Güímar BW 2.JPG|thumb|Pyramids of Güímar]] [[File:Tenerife2005 056.jpg|thumb|Architecture in Santa Cruz (Plaza de España)]] [[File:Auditorio de Tenerife 013.JPG|thumb|Auditorio de Tenerife, icon of architecture in Canary Islands<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Europe/Spain/Madrid/Madrid/Mostoles/photo370327.htm|title=TrekLens – Auditorio Tenerife Photo|work=treklens.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=10 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210073021/http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Europe/Spain/Madrid/Madrid/Mostoles/photo370327.htm}}</ref>]] Tenerife is characterized by an architecture whose best representatives are the local manor houses and the most humble, common dwellings. This style, while influenced by those of Andalusia and Portugal, nevertheless had a very particular and native character.<ref name=islaaisla/>

Of the manor houses, the best examples can be found in La Orotava and in La Laguna, characterized by their balconies and by the existence of interior patios and the widespread use of the wood known as ''pino tea'' ("pitch pine"). Simple façades and wooden lattices characterize these houses, which have little ornamentation.<ref name=islaaisla/> There are sash windows, and it is customary for the chairs inside the house to rest back-to-back to the windows. The interior patios function like real gardens, providing extra light to the rooms, which are connected via the patio by galleries frequently crowned with wood and stone.

Gadgets such as stills, water pumps, benches, and counters are common elements of these patios.<ref name=islaaisla/>

Traditional houses generally have two storeys, with rough walls of variegated colours. Sometimes the continuity of these walls is interrupted by stone blocks used for ornamental purposes.<ref name=islaaisla/>

The government buildings and religious structures were built in accordance with the changing styles of each century. The urban nuclei of La Orotava and La Laguna have been declared national historical-artistic monuments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcu.es/patrimonio/index.html|title=Áreas de Cultura: Patrimonio Cultural – Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte|work=mcu.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

In recent years, various governments have spearheaded the concept of developing architectural projects, sometimes ostentatious ones, designed by renowned architects–for example, the remodeling of the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. Other examples include the Playa de Las Teresitas project by the Frenchman Dominique Perrault; the centre known as Magma Arte & Congresos; the Torres de Santa Cruz; and the Auditorio de Tenerife ("Auditorium of Tenerife"). The latter, by the Spaniard Santiago Calatrava, lies to the east of the Parque Marítimo ("Maritime Park"), in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is characterized by its sail-like structure, which evokes a boat, and has become a symbol for the city and island,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Area%20profesional/Tenerife%20Convention%20Bureau/Centros%20de%20congresos/AUDITORIO%20DE%20TENERIFE%20TCB.htm?Lang=es|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015010101/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Area%2Bprofesional/Tenerife%2BConvention%2BBureau/Centros%2Bde%2Bcongresos/AUDITORIO%2BDE%2BTENERIFE%2BTCB.htm?Lang=es|archive-date=15 October 2008}}</ref> which makes Santa Cruz de Tenerife one of the Spanish cities with the most futuristic buildings.

=== Crafts === thumb|left|Traditional costume Distinctive representatives of craftsmanship on the island are Tenerife lace (''calado canario''), which is drawn work embroidery, and the intricate doilies known as ''rosetas'', or rosette embroidery, particularly from Vilaflor. The lace, often made for table linen, is produced by the intricate and slow embroidering of a stretched piece of cloth, which is rigidly attached to a wooden frame and is finished with illustrations or patterns using threads that are crossed over and wound around the ''fijadores'', or pins stuck in a small support made of cloth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todotenerife.es/index.php?sectionID=7&lang=2&s=1&ID=730 |title=Todo Tenerife – Welcome to Tenerife |publisher=Todotenerife.es |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref> These decorated, small pieces are afterward joined to produce distinct designs and pieces of cloth.<ref name=casabalcones>{{cite web|url=http://www.casa-balcones.com/esp/index.html|title=Museo Casa de Los Balcones|work=casa-balcones.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405003954/http://www.casa-balcones.com/esp/index.html|archive-date=5 April 2014}}</ref>

Another Tenerife-based industry is cabinetwork. The north of the island produced master artisans who crafted distinctive balconies, celosias, doors, and windows, as well as fine wood furniture. Basketmaking using palm leaves was also an important industry. Other materials are chestnut tree branches stripped of their leaves and bananatree fibre (known locally as ''la badana'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%20sin%20perderte%20nada/Mas%20sobre%20Tenerife/Tradiciones/Artesania/CESTERIA.htm?WBCMODE=presentationunpublis&Lang=es|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015010101/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%2Bsin%2Bperderte%2Bnada/Mas%2Bsobre%2BTenerife/Tradiciones/Artesania/CESTERIA.htm?WBCMODE=presentationunpublis&Lang=es|archive-date=15 October 2008}}</ref>

Pottery has a long history, dating back to the Guanches' ceramic production. The Guanches were unfamiliar with the potter's wheel, and used hand-worked clay, which gave their pottery a distinctive look. Pottery was used to produce domestic objects such as pots and grills, or ornamental pieces such as bead collars or the objects known as ''pintaderas'', which were pieces of pottery used to decorate other vessels.<ref name=naturaycultura/>

=== Traditional celebrations === thumb|upright|Annual performance to honour "Our Lady of Candelaria" at Socorro Beach, Güímar

==== Carnival of Santa Cruz ==== Perhaps the most important festival of Tenerife, popular both on a national and international level, is the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest (''Fiesta de Interés Turístico Internacional'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carnavaltenerife.es/staticpages/index.php?page=1.presentacion|title=Página oficial del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife|work=carnavaltenerife.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930195304/http://www.carnavaltenerife.es/staticpages/index.php?page=1.presentacion|archive-date=30 September 2008}}</ref> The carnival is celebrated in many locations in the north and south of the island, but is largest in scope in the city of Santa Cruz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?ID=4758&s=6&sectionID=45&lang=1&hilite=carnaval|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090115183809/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?ID=4758&s=6&sectionID=45&lang=1&hilite=carnaval|archive-date=15 January 2009|title=Información del Cabildo Insular acerca de todos los carnavales de Tenerife|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> Contests are celebrated, and the carnival includes bands of street musicians (''murgas''), groups of minstrels (''rondallas de Tenerife''), masquerades (''comparsas''), and various associations (''agrupaciones''). Once the Queen of the festival is elected, the first part of the carnival ends, and thereafter begins the actual street carnival, in which large numbers of people gather in the centre of Santa Cruz, with the carnival lasting ten days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sctfe.es/index.php?id=627|title=Apartado de Fiestas de la página web del Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife|work=sctfe.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=28 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928031328/https://www.sctfe.es/index.php?id=627}}</ref>

==== Pilgrimages (''Romerías'') ==== The most traditional and widespread religious festivals on the islands are the pilgrimages or ''romerías''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%20sin%20perderte%20nada/Mas%20sobre%20Tenerife/Tradiciones/Fiestas/ROMERIAS.htm?wbc_purpose=Basi&Lang=es|title=Turismo Tenerife: Alojamiento, Carnaval, Actividades... – Tenerife|work=webtenerife.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015010101/http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta%2Bsin%2Bperderte%2Bnada/Mas%2Bsobre%2BTenerife/Tradiciones/Fiestas/ROMERIAS.htm?wbc_purpose=Basi&Lang=es|archive-date=15 October 2008}}</ref> These events, which incorporate Christian and non-Christian elements, are celebrated by various means: with wagons and floats, plowing teams and livestock, in honor of the patron saint of a particular place. The processions are accompanied by local dances, local dishes, folkloric activities, local arts and crafts, local sports, and the wearing of traditional Tenerife dress (''trajes de mago'').

The origins of these events can be attributed to the parties and celebrations held by the island's richest classes, who would gather to venerate their patron saints, to whom they attributed good harvests, fertile lands, plentiful rainfall, the curing of illnesses, and the end of epidemics, etc. They would thus pay homage to these saints by consuming and sharing the fruits of their harvest, including locally cultivated wines. These have developed into processions to mark festivals dedicated to Saint Mark in Tegueste, where the wagons are decorated with the fruits of the earth (seeds, cereals, flowers, etc.); to Saint Isidore the Laborer in Los Realejos; to Saint Isidore the Laborer and Maria Torribia (''Saint Mary of the Head'') in La Orotava; the Romería Regional de San Benito Abad in La Laguna; Virgin of Candelaria in Candelaria; Saint Roch in Garachico; Saint Augustine in Arafo; and the Romería del Socorro in Güímar.

==== Holiday of the Virgin of Candelaria ==== The Virgin of Candelaria is the patron of the Canary Islands; a feast is held in her honor two times a year, in February and August. The Romeria-Offering to the Virgin of Candelaria is celebrated every 15 August. In this event, it is a tradition for representatives of all municipalities on the island and across the Canary archipelago to come and make offerings to their patron. Another significant act of the feast of the Virgin of Candelaria is called "''Walk to Candelaria''" held on the night of 14 to 15 August, in which the faithful make pilgrimage on foot from various parts of the island, even coming from other islands, to arrive at Villa Mariana de Candelaria.

On 2 February, we celebrate the feast of the Candelaria. Also on this day, many devotees of the Virgin come to town. During the February festivities, the so-called "Procesión de Las Candelas" (''Candlelight Procession'') stands out, in which the faithful accompany the Virgin in the dark of night, lit only by candles, as they pray the rosary.

==== Holiday of the Cristo de La Laguna ==== It is celebrated every 14 September in honor of a much venerated image of Christ in the Archipelago, the Cristo de La Laguna, which is held in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Every 9 September, the venerated image of Christ is lowered in public from the main altar of its Royal Sanctuary, after which, the faithful kiss the feet of the image. The image is solemnly transferred in procession to the Cathedral of La Laguna on that afternoon, where it remains for several days until 14 September, the main day, when it is transferred back to its Sanctuary.

==== Corpus Christi ==== [[File:Plaza-centro.jpg|thumb|Soil Tapestry in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Square) in La Orotava]] The religious festival of Corpus Christi is particularly important, and is traditionally celebrated with floral carpets laid in the streets. Particularly noteworthy are the celebrations in La Orotava, where a very large carpet, or tapestry, of different-coloured volcanic soils covers the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town square). These soils are taken from the Parque Nacional del Teide and, after the celebration, returned to preserve the National Park. The celebration of Corpus Christi in Orotava has been declared of Important Cultural Interest among the official Traditional Activities of the Island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villadelaorotava.org/fiestas.php?op2=19|title=Página del ayuntamiento de la Villa de La Orotava|work=villadelaorotava.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604184007/http://www.villadelaorotava.org/fiestas.php?op2=19|archive-date=4 June 2008}}</ref>

==== Easter ==== Among the numerous other celebrations that define Tenerifan culture, Easter remains the most important. This is celebrated across the island, but is particularly notable in the municipalities of La Laguna, La Orotava, and Los Realejos, where elaborate processions take place on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, or "Resurrection Sunday". Holy Week in the city of San Cristobal de la Laguna is the largest of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sobrecanarias.com/2010/02/22/semana-santa-lagunera-2010/|title=Semana Santa en La Laguna 2010|date=22 February 2010|work=sobrecanarias.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

== Religion == [[File:La Laguna 2022 - main facade.jpg|thumb|Cathedral of La Laguna, seat of the local Catholic diocese]] As with the rest of Spain, Tenerife is largely Catholic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Informacion+practica/Consejos+Practicos/Idiomas+y+religion/0/Que+religion+se+practica+en+Espana.htm?Language=ES|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205011713/http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Informacion+practica/Consejos+Practicos/Idiomas+y+religion/0/Que+religion+se+practica+en+Espana.htm?Language=ES|archive-date=5 December 2005|title=Información turística de España|work=spain.info|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> However, the practice of other religions and denominations has increasingly expanded on the island due to tourism and immigration, as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Evangelicalism, Judaism and Afro-American religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.observatorioreligion.es/upload/80/39/Pdfd_interactivo_Canarias.pdf|title=Religiones entre continentes. Minorías religiosas en Canarias.|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> Minority religions are stationed in the island: Chinese Religions,<ref name="laopinion.es">{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/sociedad/2008/10/03/sociedad-canarios-profesa-religion-minoritaria/173826.html|title=Un 5% de canarios profesa una religión minoritaria – La Opinión de Tenerife|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|work=laopinion.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> Baháʼí<ref name="laopinion.es"/> and the neopaganism native form, the Church of the Guanche People,<ref name="laopinion.es"/> among others. Christianity and Judaism arrived on the island with the Spanish conquest.

[[File:Tenerife.candelaria.exterior.basilica.jpg|thumb|left|Basilica of Candelaria, sanctuary of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands]] An important Catholic festival is the celebration of the feast day of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands, who represents the union of Guanche and Spanish cultures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=3033_2_126517__Tenerife-Viva-Virgen-Candelaria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205256/http://www.laopinion.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=3033_2_126517__Tenerife-Viva-Virgen-Candelaria|archive-date=3 November 2012|title=Tenerife – La Opinión de Tenerife – Hemeroteca 03-02-2008|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|work=laopinion.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> The Guanches became devoted to a Black Madonna that Christian missionaries from Lanzarote and Fuerteventura left on a beach near the present-day Villa Mariana de Candelaria, which gave rise to the legends and stories associated with the Virgin. These legends fueled the cult of the Virgin and the pilgrimages to Candelaria that have existed to this day on the island. Another cult to the Virgin exists in the form of Our Lady of Los Remedios (''la Virgen de Los Remedios''), who is patron of the island and Catholic diocese of Tenerife (''Diócesis Nivariense'').

[[File:Hermano Pedro.jpg|thumb|right|Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur, franciscan missionary in Guatemala born in Tenerife. He was the first Canarian to be canonized by the Catholic Church. This saint is very venerated in Tenerife.]] In Tenerife, two Catholic saints were born who were among the greatest missionaries in the Americas: Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur and José de Anchieta. The first was a missionary in Guatemala and founder of Order of Our Lady of Bethlehem (the first religious order of the Americas), the second was a missionary in Brazil, and was one of the founders of São Paulo and of Rio de Janeiro. It also highlights the figure of the mystic Mary of Jesus de León y Delgado. This nun, known for her holiness, died and is highly revered throughout the Canary Islands. Her body is intact in the Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

Principal Catholic places of worship on the island include:

* ''The Basilica of Candelaria'' (in Candelaria): The place where the image of the Virgin of Candelaria can be found, this sanctuary is built in neoclassical style, and is visited daily by the parishioners, who visit the Villa Mariana out of devotion to the Virgin of Candelaria. * The ''Cathedral of La Laguna'' (in San Cristóbal de La Laguna): The seat of the Diocese of Tenerife (known as the Diócesis Nivariense, or Nivarian Diocese), the cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies (''la Virgen de Los Remedios'')—a combination of neo-Gothic and neoclassical architectural elements. * ''Real Santuario del Cristo de La Laguna'' (in San Cristóbal de La Laguna): One of the most important churches in the Canary Islands, it contains the venerated image of the Cristo de La Laguna, and is a symbol of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. *''* Mother Parish of the Apostle Santiago (Los Realejos)'' (''Parroquia Matriz del Apóstol Santiago''): Situated in Villa de Los Realejos, this parish church was the first Christian church built on the island after its conquest by Castilian forces. It is dedicated to Saint James the Great, as the ''conquista'' was completed on the saint's feast day on 25 July 1496. It was, along with the Parish of the Conception of La Laguna, one of the first parishes of the island. * ''The Church of the Conception of La Laguna'' (''Iglesia de la Concepción de La Laguna''): One of the most ancient buildings on Tenerife, its construction was ordered by Alonso Fernández de Lugo. It has been declared a National Historic Monument. Around this church were built the dwellings and infrastructure that formed the nucleus of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

Other important churches include the Church of the Conception in La Orotava (Iglesia de la Concepción); the churches of San Agustín and Santo Domingo in La Orotava; the church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia in Puerto de la Cruz; the church of San Marcos in Icod de los Vinos; the church of Santa Ana in Garachico; and the Church of the Conception (Iglesia de la Concepción) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The first saint of Tenerife<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20020730_canonization-guatemala_sp.html|title=Viaje Apostólico a la Ciudad de Guatemala: Santa misa de canonización del beato hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt en el Hipódromo del Sur, Ciudad de Guatemala (30 de julio de 2002) – Juan Pablo II|work=vatican.va|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> and Canary Islands<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museosdetenerife.org/cedocam-centro-de-documentacion-de-canarias-y-america/evento/2558|title=Museos de Tenerife – Intemporales: "Hermano Pedro, primer santo de las Islas Canarias"|work=museosdetenerife.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=17 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517190934/http://www.museosdetenerife.org/cedocam-centro-de-documentacion-de-canarias-y-america/evento/2558}}</ref> was Saint Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, born in the town of Vilaflor, Tenerife. His main shrine is the Cave of Santo Hermano Pedro in Granadilla de Abona, near the coast, where he lived in his youth. This cave is considered one of the most important pilgrimage spots of the Canary Islands.

Another notable building on the island is the Masonic Temple of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, generally considered the finest example of Masonic temple architecture in Spain;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masoneria.org/temploTF.php|title=Masonería en Canarias – Masoneria Regular|work=masoneria.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> it was the Masonic centre of the country until the military occupation of the island by the Franco regime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldia.es/2002-10-17/SANTACRUZ/0-templo-masonico-bien-interes-cultural.htm#4|title=El templo masónico, bien de interés cultural|date=17 October 2002|work=eldia.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

The headquarters of the Islamic Federation of the Canary Islands is in Tenerife; the organization was founded to unite the Muslim communities of the Canary Islands in a common association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2015/04/16/musulmanes-isla-constituyen-primera-federacion/601084.html|title=Los musulmanes de la Isla constituyen la primera Federación Islámica de Canarias|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|work=laopinion.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> For its part, the headquarters of the Evangelical Council of the Canary Islands is also on the island.<ref>[https://consejoevangelicodecanarias.com/contacto/ Consejo Evangélico de Canarias. Contacto]</ref>

== Education == Formal education in Tenerife began with the religious orders. In 1530, the Dominican Order established a chair of philosophy at the convent of La Concepción de La Laguna. Still, until well into the 18th century, Tenerife was largely without educational institutions. [[File:UniversityLaLaguna.JPG|thumb|left|University of La Laguna, the oldest and largest university in the Canary Islands]] Such institutions finally began to develop thanks to the work of the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País ("Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country"), which established several schools in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The first of these was an institute of secondary education established in 1846 to fill the gap left by the closure of the Universidad de San Fernando (''see University of La Laguna'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ull.es/portal/viewcategory.aspx?code=16|title=Universidad de La Laguna|work=ull.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111211540/http://www.ull.es/portal/viewcategory.aspx?code=16|archive-date=11 January 2010}}</ref>

An 1850 annex to this building was the Escuela Normal Elemental, the archipelago's first teachers' college or normal school, which became the Escuela Normal Superior de Magisterio from 1866 onward. These were the only institutions of higher education until the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera established several new ones. A turning point came around the time of the Second Spanish Republic's rise. From 1929 to 1933, the number of schools nearly doubled.

Shortly after this, though, the onset of the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship of Francisco Franco marked a considerable reversal. Education in the hands of religious orders had a certain importance on the island until the 1970 Ley General de Educación ("General Law of Education") shifted the balance from religiously based education to public education. Public schools continued their advance during and after the post-Franco Spanish transition to democracy. Tenerife today has 301 centres of childhood education (preschools), 297 primary schools, 140 secondary schools, and 86 post-secondary schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobcan.es/educacion/DGC/DirCentros/scripts/default.asp?categoria=37|title=Buscador de centros educativos y oferta educativa – Consejería de Educación y Universidades – Gobierno de Canarias|work=gobcan.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> There are also five universities or post-graduate schools, the University of La Laguna, the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (National University of Distance Learning), the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (Menéndez Pelayo International University), the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (University of Alfonso X the Wise) and the Universidad de Vic (Escuela Universitaria de Turismo de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, "University School of Tourism of Santa Cruz de Tenerife"). The largest of these is the University of La Laguna.

The Universidad Europea de Canarias (European University of the Canary Islands) is located in La Orotava and is the first private university in the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.villadelaorotava.org/educacion.php?op2=py&id=32|title=Universidad Europea de Canarias en La Orotava|work=villadelaorotava.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407071317/http://www.villadelaorotava.org/educacion.php?op2=py&id=32|archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

=== Science and research === [[File:Obs 2.jpg|thumb|left|Teide Observatory, part of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Astrophysics Institute of the Canaries)]] While Tenerife is not prominent in the history of scientific and academic research, it is the home of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries). There is also an Instituto de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (Antonio González Bio-Organic Institute) at the University of La Laguna. Also at that university are the Instituto de Lingüística Andrés Bello (Andrés Bello Institute of Linguistics), the Centro de Estudios Medievales y Renacentistas (Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies), the Instituto Universitario de la Empresa (University Institute of Business), the Instituto de Derecho Regional (Regional Institute of Law), the Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales (University Institute of Political and Social Sciences) and the Instituto de Enfermedades Tropicales (Institute of Tropical Diseases). This last is one of the seven institutions of the Red de Investigación de Centros de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET, "Network of Research of Centres of Tropical Diseases"), located in various parts of Spain.

Puerto de la Cruz has the Instituto de Estudios Hispánicos de Canarias (Institute of Hispanic Studies of the Canaries), attached to Madrid's Instituto de Cultura Hispánica. In La Laguna is the Canarian delegation of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC, Superior Council of Scientific Investigations), the Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (Canarian Institute of Agrarian Investigation), the Instituto de Estudios Canarios (Canarian Institute of Studies) and the Centro Internacional para la Conservación del Patrimonio (the International Centre of the Conservation of Patrimony).

Other research facilities in Tenerife are the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, the Instituto Vulcanológico de Canarias, the Asociación Industrial de Canarias, the Instituto Tecnológico de Energías Renovables (Technological Institute of Renewable Energy), and the Instituto Oceanográfico de Canarias in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

=== Museums === [[File:Momia guanche museo santa cruz 27-07.JPG|thumb|right|Guanche mummy in the Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre]] [[File:Pueblo Chico Guanchen2.jpg|thumb|right|Guanche figures at Pueblo Chico in La Oratava]] The island boasts a variety of museums under the auspices of various institutions. Perhaps the most developed are those belonging to the Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museosdetenerife.org/index.php?al_id_mus=6|title=Museos de Tenerife – Museos de Tenerife|work=museosdetenerife.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> which include the following: * Museum of Nature and Man: located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this museum exhibits the natural riches of the Canary Islands and of the pre-Hispanic people who inhabited these. The Museum of Nature and Man is a world reference for the preservation of mummies. The complex is composed of three museums: ** The Museum of Natural Sciences ** The Archaeological Museum of Tenerife ** The Canarian Institute of Bioanthropology * Museum of the History of Tenerife: located in the city of La Laguna, the history museum presents an overview of the institutional, social, economic, and cultural development of the island from the 15th to 20th centuries. * The Museum of Science and the Cosmos, also located in La Laguna, adjacent to the property of the Instituto de Astrofísica, is a museum about the laws and principles of nature, from those of the cosmos to those of the human body. * The Museum of Anthropology of Tenerife, in La Laguna as well, more specifically in Valle de Guerra, is a public institution for the investigation, conservation, and spread of popular culture * The Centro de Documentación Canario-Americano (CEDOCAM, Centre for Canarian-American Documentation), located in La Laguna, has a mission of strengthening cultural relations and elements of common identity between the Canaries and the Americas, through such means as conservation, information, and diffusion of their shared documentary patrimony. * The Centro de Fotografía Isla de Tenerife ("Island of Tenerife Photographic Centre") located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers an annual program of exhibitions that allows contact with tendencies and works of various renowned and emergent photographers of the Canaries. In the future, this centre will share a headquarters with the Instituto Óscar Domínguez de Arte y Cultura Contemporánea (Óscar Domínguez Institute of Art and Culture). * The Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA, "Tenerife Arts Space") also in Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded to promote knowledge of the many contemporary tendencies in art and culture among the local population and visitors, by organizing cultural, scientific, educational, and technical activities.

Independent of the Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros are:

* The Casa del Carnaval or ''Carnival House'', located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is a museum dedicated to the history of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The enclosure has two exhibition areas: one for temporary exhibitions and also used as an assembly hall, and another for permanent exhibitions in which the costumes of the queen of the carnival of each year stand out, the original posters of the carnival, thematic videos of the history of the party, touch screens, and virtual reality glasses. * The Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in the Tenerifan capital has a permanent exhibit of the paintings and sculptures of José de Ribera, Federico Madrazo, Joaquín Sorolla and such Canarian artists as Manolo Millares and Óscar Domínguez. * The Casa del Vino-La Baranda ("House of Wine-La Baranda"), a member of the ''Asociación de Museos del Vino de España'' (Association of Wine Museums of Spain),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museosdelvino.es/listaSocios.htm|title=Socios de la Asociación de Museos del Vino de España|work=museosdelvino.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016044535/http://www.museosdelvino.es/listaSocios.htm|archive-date=16 October 2008}}</ref> is located in the municipality of El Sauzal. Its facilities include a rustic, historic ''hacienda'', a museum of viticulture in Tenerife, a restaurant serving typical Tenerifan cuisine, a wine store, an audiovisual hall, and a tasting room. * The Casa de la Miel ("House of Honey") is an annex to the Casa del Vino-La Baranda, and was established by the ''Cabildo Insular'' to support and develop the apicultural (bee-keeping) sector on Tenerife. The visitor centre of the Casa de la Miel offers exhibits about the history of this industry on the island and how apiculture is conducted, as well as information services and opportunities to taste Tenerifan ''denominación de origen'' honeys.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casadelamiel.org/miel.html|title=Página de la Casa de la Miel de Tenerife|work=casadelamiel.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915183811/http://www.casadelamiel.org/miel.html|archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref> * The Museum of Iberoamerican Artisanship is located in the old convent of San Benito Abad, in La Orotava. ''El centro se encuadra dentro del programa de divulgación que ejecuta el'' Centre for Documentation of Artisanship in Spain and the Americas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.geocities.com/cdiaea/museo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128160126/http://es.geocities.com/cdiaea/museo/|archive-date=28 January 2008|title=Museo de Artesanía Iberoamericana|date=28 January 2008|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> The Foundation is financed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (Spanish Agency of International Cooperation), the Comisión Nacional "Quinto Centeneario" ("Fifth Centenary" National Commission), the Consejería de Industria y Comercio del Gobierno de Canarias (Council of Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canaries), and the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife. It has five galleries, specialized in popular musical instruments, textiles / new designs in artisanship, ceramics, fibers, and popular art. * The Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz in the city of the same name is located in a traditional ''casona'' (a type of house dating from the 18th–19th century), offers an archival collection comprising more than 2,600 specimens of items from the Guanche culture, and a document collection named after researcher Luis Diego Cuscoy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arqueopc.museum/nuevo/pagina.asp?id=3|title=Fondo museográfico del espacio|work=arqueopc.museum|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111223949/http://www.arqueopc.museum/nuevo/pagina.asp?id=3|archive-date=11 January 2009}}</ref> * The Regional Military Museum of the Canaries is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, more specifically in the Fuerte de Almeyda district. Its galleries present the full military history of the Canary Islands, including the repulsion of the attack by British Admiral Horatio Nelson, as well as other events and battles fought in the islands. Separate from the Regional Military Museum are files providing the Intermediate Military Archive of the Canaries and the Military Library of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ihycm/chycm/index.html|title=Official site of the Centro de Historia y Cultura Militar de Canarias|work=mde.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926115831/http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ihycm/chycm/index.html|archive-date=26 September 2008}}</ref>

== Media == {{Globalize|section|date=November 2019}} Along with many Spanish-language radio and TV stations, Tenerife has two official English-language radio stations. Coast FM broadcasts a mix of adult contemporary music and is the only local news service to broadcast in English. As the larger of the two stations, Coast FM can be heard across Tenerife and much of the Canary Islands from its transmitters on 106.6, 92.2, and 89.4. Energy FM is a non-stop music station that also broadcasts local news and information every hour.

== Transport and communications == thumb|Santa Cruz de Tenerife The island of Tenerife is served by Tenerife North Airport (GCXO) and Tenerife South Airport (GCTS). Thanks to its two airports, Tenerife gathers the highest passenger movement of all the Canary Islands, with 18,457,794 passengers.<ref name="pax">{{cite web|url= https://www.aena.es/es/estadisticas/informes-anuales.html |title=AENA statistics|access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref>

Tenerife North Airport, the smaller of the two, is located near the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz-La Laguna (423,000 inhabitants). It serves inter-insular flights as well as national and European flights. Tenerife South Airport (south) is the busiest airport in Tenerife, ranking 7th in Spain. It typically serves the mass of regular and vacation charter flights constantly arriving from most of Europe.

The other way to get to Tenerife is by ferry, either to Santa Cruz de Tenerife or to Los Cristianos, near Playa de Las Américas.

A network consisting of two fast, toll-free motorways (TF1 and TF5) encircles nearly the entire island, linking all the main towns and resorts with the metropolitan area. The exception is in the West, from Adeje to Icod de los Vinos, which is traversed by a smaller winding mountain road. However, plans to complete the motorway are underway, sparking a heated debate between environmentalists and local business owners.

Away from the major motorways, there is a network of secondary and communal roads, ranging from wide to steep, winding, narrow roads, mainly unlit and often with drops on either side of the main carriageway.

thumb|right|Teno, the westernmost point in the island Public transport on the island is provided by an extensive network of buses operated by TITSA, which runs a fleet of modern, air-conditioned buses.<ref>"Tenerife's main bus service, TITSA, is efficient and covers the island well. Most of the vehicles are new, air conditioned, clean and painted white and green." Barrett, Pam (2000) ''Insight Guide Tenerife and Western Canary Islands'' (4th ed.) Insight Guides, APA Publications, Singapore, p. 280, {{ISBN|1-58573-060-2}}</ref> TITSA buses cover most of the island, and they are fairly frequent. For multiple journeys, customers can purchase a TenMas contactless smart card for €2, which can be topped up with up to €100 in travel credit. Using the TenMas card provides a discount on cash fares, and, for Tenerife residents, a card that allows unlimited travel for a monthly fee is also available.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-bono-residente-canario-viajar-manera-ilimitada-guagua-tranvia-tenerife-47-euros-mes-20180919132656.html|title=Bono Residente Canario: viajar de manera ilimitada en guagua y tranvía en Tenerife por 47 euros al mes|date=19 September 2018|publisher=Europa Press|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref> The card can be purchased and topped up at bus stations and many newsagents. It is also valid on the tram in the capital, Santa Cruz.

A hire car is sometimes a good option for exploring remote wilderness regions. However, TITSA operates reliable bus services to the remotest spots, such as the Teno Massif via Masca (355) and up the Anaga mountains (247). TITSA operates two daily services up Mount Teide – from Puerto de la Cruz (348) and from Los Cristianos/Las Americas (342)- to the Teide Parador, Teleférico cable car, Montana Blanca, and El Portillo.

The metropolitan area comprising Santa Cruz and La Laguna is served by the ''Tranvía de Tenerife'' (''Tenerife Tram''), which opened in early 2007 after 3 years of intensive work. The fairly lengthy line from Santa Cruz up the hill to La Laguna serves almost 20 stops. A second line within La Laguna was added in 2009.

=== Roads === thumb|TF5 motorway approaching Santa Cruz The main means of transportation in Tenerife is by highway. The most important of these are the Autopista del Sur and the Autopista del Norte (the North and South Motorways), which run from the metropolitan zone to the south and north, respectively. These two motorways are connected by means of the Autovía de Interconexión Norte-Sur in the outskirts of the metropolitan zone. Within the network of roads on the island of Tenerife, there are other minor roads that used to include the highway from San Andres and Santa Cruz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPTzMfT293QwMLA0MLAyOPUAsvdyc_I0NjQ6B8JFDe2cQ3BCRvYGFhYGDk6mbqG-Lhb2DgaUBAt59Hfm6qfkFuRDkAMf0HJA!!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0NTSUpKZ2tLQ2xFS0NsRUEhL29Kb1FBQUlRSkFBTVl4aWxNUVp3WEJNNUpVbE1rQSEhL1lCSkp3NDU0NTAtNUY0a3N0eWowc3J5bndBISEvN19ISTZMSUtHMTBPUDU5MDJIUDk0MUhLQlMwNC9LX19fXzIvaWRDb250ZW50L2NvbS5pYm0ud29ya3BsYWNlLndjbS5hcGkuV0NNX0NvbnRlbnQlMExpc3RhZG8gZGUgQ2FycmV0ZXJhcyUwZDEzMWUwODA0NGFmYjNhZGI2OGZmZThiOTdjNTg0NDUlMFBVQkxJU0hFRC9jbGlja051bUl0ZW0vMg!!/#7_HI6LIKG10OP5902HP941HKBS04|title=Red de carreteras de Tenerife|work=tenerife.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=24 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224225003/http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPTzMfT293QwMLA0MLAyOPUAsvdyc_I0NjQ6B8JFDe2cQ3BCRvYGFhYGDk6mbqG-Lhb2DgaUBAt59Hfm6qfkFuRDkAMf0HJA!!/dl2/d1/L0lDU0NTSUpKZ2tLQ2xFS0NsRUEhL29Kb1FBQUlRSkFBTVl4aWxNUVp3WEJNNUpVbE1rQSEhL1lCSkp3NDU0NTAtNUY0a3N0eWowc3J5bndBISEvN19ISTZMSUtHMTBPUDU5MDJIUDk0MUhLQlMwNC9LX19fXzIvaWRDb250ZW50L2NvbS5pYm0ud29ya3BsYWNlLndjbS5hcGkuV0NNX0NvbnRlbnQlMExpc3RhZG8gZGUgQ2FycmV0ZXJhcyUwZDEzMWUwODA0NGFmYjNhZGI2OGZmZThiOTdjNTg0NDUlMFBVQkxJU0hFRC9jbGlja051bUl0ZW0vMg!!/#7_HI6LIKG10OP5902HP941HKBS04}}</ref>

Also planned is the construction of a bypass road north of the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna. This aims to provide dual cores to Guamasa and Acorán, by way of Los Baldíos, Centenero, Llano del Moro, El Sobradillo, El Tablero, and El Chorrillo, among other neighbourhoods. The route will be approximately {{convert|20|km|mi}} long and will cost an estimated 190 million euros (270 million in American dollars).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerife.es/piot/|title=Plan Insular de Ordenación de Tenerife|work=tenerife.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

=== Airports === thumb|Tenerife North Airport Tenerife is most easily reached by air. There are two airports: Tenerife South Airport, in the south, and Tenerife North Airport, near Santa Cruz. Overall, Tenerife has the highest annual passenger count and the greatest number of arrivals in the Canary Islands, further boosted by the availability of cheap flights from many European destinations. Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport together account for the highest passenger numbers in the Islands with some 14 million passengers annually (AENA report<ref>{{cite web |title=dead link |url=http://www.aena.es/csee/ccurl/Anual_2007.pdf |access-date=30 March 2010}} {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>). Of the two airports on the island, Tenerife South is the most popular.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aena.es/csee/ccurl/Anual_2007.pdf|title=Informe estadístico anual (2007) de Aena|work=aena.es|access-date=18 April 2017}} {{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.logitravel.com/vuelos/vuelos-tenerife-1573995.html|title=Vuelos Tenerife desde 20 €. Ofertas de vuelos directos a Tenerife TCI - Logitravel.com|work=logitravel.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

=== Ports === Besides air transport, Tenerife has two principal maritime ports: the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (''Puerto de Santa Cruz''), which serves the various capitals of the Canary Islands, especially those in the east; and the Port of Los Cristianos (''Puerto de Los Cristianos''), which serves the various island capitals of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The first port also offers passenger services connecting to the mainland port of Cádiz (and vice versa). In 2017, a large important port was opened in the south of the island, the Port of Granadilla, and another one is planned in the west, in Fonsalía.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puertosdetenerife.org/|title=Inicio – Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife|work=puertosdetenerife.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> The Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the first fishing port in the Canary Islands with approximately 7,500 tons of fish caught, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the State Ports 2006 (the latest of which is changing). Following this report is the largest number of passengers recorded. Similarly, the second port of Spain, moving ship and loaded into cars, only surpassed by the Port of Algeciras Bay.<ref name="puertos.es"> {{Cite web |url=http://www.puertos.es/export/download/anuarios_estadisticos/04-CAPITULO_4-2006.pdf |title=Anuario estadístico de Puertos del Estado |access-date=30 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331101428/http://www.puertos.es/export/download/anuarios_estadisticos/04-CAPITULO_4-2006.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2010 }} </ref> The port's facilities include a border inspection post (BIP) approved by the European Union, which is responsible for inspecting all types of imports from third countries or exports to countries outside the European Economic Area.

=== Buses (''guaguas'') === Tenerife has an extensive bus system, called ''guaguas'' in the Canary Islands. The bus system is used both within cities and to connect most of the island's towns and cities. There are bus stations in all of the major towns, such as the Intercambiador de Transportes de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

=== Taxis === There is a well-regulated taxi service on the island.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}

=== Tramway === thumb|right|Tramway servicing between Santa Cruz and La Laguna Since 2007, the Tenerife Tram connects Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna through the suburb of Taco. There are 20 stops, and it covers {{convert|12.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} in 37 minutes. It calls at several points of interest, including Tenerife's two major hospitals, the Guajara university complex, and some museums and theatres. Regarding its power supply, it will support the development of additional wind farms to provide 100 percent clean energy.<ref>[http://www.metrotenerife.com/ webpage]</ref>

==== Railway plans ==== {{Main|Tren del Sur}}

By 2005, plans for a light-rail network linking the capital with the South had been approved by both the Tenerife Council and the Canary Islands Government, though the discussion with the central Spanish Government stalled on budget issues.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061213211221/http://www.cabtfe.es/areasgc/presidencia/corporacion/presidente/apuestatransporte.html Navarro, Ricardo Melchior (23 October 2005) "Apuesta por el transporte público" ''El Dia''] (''Odds for Public Transportation'')</ref> The original intent was to establish two railway systems that would serve the northern and southern sides of the island connecting these with the capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrotenerife.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=99|title=Inicio MetroTenerife|website=metrotenerife.com|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> By March 2011, these intentions had been replaced by advanced plans for a single {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=on}} high-speed rail line, the "South Train" which would connect Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Adeje via Santa Maria de Añaza, Candelaria, San Isidro, Tenerife South Airport, and a main stopover station at Adeje which would be designed to service up to 25,000 passengers per day. Trains would run every 15 minutes during rush hours and reach speeds of up to {{convert|220|km/h|0|abbr=on}}. The project, which involves 9 tunnels, 12 false tunnels (for a total of 22.1 km), and 33 viaducts (8.3 km), has been budgeted at EUR 1.7 bn. It has met staunch opposition from local environmentalists.

Plans for the train system were resurrected in 2017. Construction is expected to start by 2027.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tenerifeweekly.com/2025/10/04/tenerifes-train-dream-finally-coming-down-the-tracks|title=Train coming down the tracks|website=tenerifeweekly.com|date=4 October 2025}}</ref>

An alternate plan for a high-speed Transrapid maglev has also been put forward.<ref>{{cite news|journal=Der Spiegel|title=Transrapid Revival on the Canary Islands? Berlin Pushes Industry on High-Speed Maglev Rail|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/transrapid-revival-on-the-canary-islands-berlin-pushes-industry-on-high-speed-maglev-rail-a-758348.html|date=22 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Maglev System on the Island of Tenerife |url=http://magnetbahnforum.de/phpBB2/download.php?id=108 |date=10–13 October 2011 |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623165309/http://magnetbahnforum.de/phpBB2/download.php?id=108 |archive-date=23 June 2016 }}</ref>

===Tourist bus train=== A tourist train (Tren Turístico) serves Costa Adeje to Los Cristianos with several stops, including Playa de las Americas. It is served by a motor vehicle designed to resemble a train, with a separate carriage attached.

===Cableway=== thumb|alt=Teide cableway|Teide cableway {{further|Teide Cableway}}

== Sports == {{Main|Sport in Tenerife}}

On the island of Tenerife, a wide range of sports are practised, both outdoors and indoors, across the various facilities available throughout the island. The sports are numerous – diving, rock climbing, walking, cycling, sailing, golf, surfing, go-karting, paragliding<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tenerife.paraglidingistheway.com/|title=Paragliding, fly with the experts|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205193553/https://www.tenerife.paraglidingistheway.com/}}</ref> – the all-year-round warm weather makes it ideal for a wide variety of outdoor sports. There are also many indoor sporting facilities, including a fully equipped 'Tenerife Top Training' centre in Adeje on the South of the Island. Its most well-known sports team is football club CD Tenerife based in Santa Cruz. The club has spent time in the Spanish top flight but has, in recent decades, primarily played in the second division of Spanish football. Also worth mentioning is the ultramarathon CajaMar Tenerife Bluetrail, the highest race in Spain and second in Europe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.es/deportes/abci-tenerife-bluetrail-carrera-mas-alta-espana-201610060829_noticia.html|title=Tenerife Bluetrail, la carrera más alta de España|date=6 October 2016 |access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> with the participation of several countries and great international repercussions.

== Healthcare == [[File:Hospital Universitario de Canarias.png|thumb|right|Hospital Universitario de Canarias]]

The main hospitals on the island are the Hospital Universitario de Canarias and the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. Both are third-level hospitals, with specialist facilities that serve all of the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/6/6_2/at_hosp.jsp|title=Información del Gobierno de Canarias sobre hospitales y servicios de referencia|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016043302/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/6/6_2/at_hosp.jsp|archive-date=16 October 2008}}</ref> They are both affiliated with the education and research network of the Universidad de La Laguna. However, they belong to different bodies, since the first one is under the directives of the Servicio Canario de la Salud (Canarian Health Service).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/organica.jsp?idCarpeta=3da5f513-541b-11de-9665-998e1388f7ed|title=Hospital Universitario de Canarias|website=Servicio Canario de la Salud|publisher=Gobierno de Canarias|language=es|access-date=2018-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hospitaldelacandelaria.com/|title=Pagina Principal Servicio Canario de la Salud|last=SCS|website=hospitaldelacandelaria.com|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> The Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria it is the largest hospital complex in the Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/sociedad/2016/03/31/hospital-candelaria-cumple-50-anos/665445.html|title=El Hospital de La Candelaria cumple 50 años de servicio|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|work=laopinion.es|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

In addition, two large new hospitals have recently been built in the north and south of the island, in the municipalities of Icod de los Vinos and Arona, respectively. The Hospital del Norte de Tenerife (''Tenerife North Hospital'') opened in 2012, and the Hospital del Sur de Tenerife (''Tenerife South Hospital'') opened in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/contenidoGenerico.jsp?idDocument=98d1ae16-1339-11e5-9e16-d107cd1682ec&idCarpeta=10b3ea46-541b-11de-9665-998e1388f7ed|title=Hospital del Sur|last=SCS|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> These centres will function, according to their classification, as second-level hospitals, with services of hospitalization, advanced diagnosis, ambulances and emergencies, and rehabilitation, etc. There are also a total of 39 centres of primary care and specialized clinics which complete the sanitary infrastructure of Tenerife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/tfe/17/centros/centros.htm|title=Información del Gobierno de Canarias sobre los centros de atención primaria y especializada de Tenerife|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426014514/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/sanidad/scs/tfe/17/centros/centros.htm|archive-date=26 April 2008}}</ref>

== Gastronomy ==

=== Fish === As an island, Tenerife enjoys an abundance of fish. The species that are consumed the most are the Combtooth blennies (''viejas''), as well as sea bream (''sama''), red porgy (''bocinegro''), gold lined bream (''salema''), grouper (''mero''), and various and abundant types of ''Thunnus''. The Atlantic mackerel (''caballa''), sardine (''sardine''), and Jack mackerels (''chicharros'') are also consumed frequently. Moray eels (''morenas'') are also eaten, usually fried. Most seafood is cooked, usually boiled, or prepared "a la espalda" (cut into two equally shaped pieces along the spine) or "a la sal" (baked in salt). These dishes are usually accompanied by ''mojo'' (a local sauce) and wrinkly potatoes.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

=== Meat === The typical festive meat dish of marinated pork tacos is a very popular dish prepared for town festivities in ''ventorrillos'', bars, and private homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/canarian-info/typical-cuisine-gastronomy/index.html|title=Fiesta Meat-Carne de fiesta de Tenerife(Official Canary Islands Tourism)|work=turismodecanarias.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629010824/http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/canarian-info/typical-cuisine-gastronomy/index.html|archive-date=29 June 2010}}</ref> Rabbit in salmorejo, goat, beef, pork, and poultry are regularly consumed.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

=== Canarian wrinkly potatoes === thumb|right|Canarian wrinkly potatoes, with red mojo The fish dishes, along with the meats, are often accompanied by wrinkly potatoes (''papas arrugadas''). This is a typical Canarian dish, named for the way the cooked potatoes look. They are boiled in their skins in salted water, and the water is allowed to evaporate, leaving a salty crust.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

=== Mojos === Mojo, a word probably of Portuguese origin, refers to a typical Canarian sauce served as an accompaniment to food. The sauces come in a variety of colours, flavours and textures, and are usually served cold, often in separate dishes, for the diner to choose how much to apply. Green mojo usually includes coriander, parsley, and garlic; whilst red mojo is piquant, and made from a mix of hot and sweet peppers. A wide variety of other ingredients are also used, including almonds, cheese, saffron, and fried bread.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/> Mojos are served with most meat, and some fish, dishes, and are often used on potatoes, or bread is dipped into them.

=== Cheeses === Tenerife exports about 3,400 tons of cheese per year, representing about 50 percent of the island's output and about 25 percent of the entire Canary Islands.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}}

After the conquest of the Canary Islands, one of the first commercial activities to be started was cheese production. The sale of cheese provided the inhabitants with income, and it was even used as a form of currency for exchange and trade, becoming a crucial product in the island's agricultural areas.

Cheese has become one of the most widely produced and consumed products on the island and is regularly served as part of a starter course or as a snack. Farms in Arico, La Orotava, and Teno produced a variety of cheeses, including soft, cured, and smoked varieties, mostly handmade. Today, the main product is goat cheese, although certain amounts are made from sheep's or cow's milk, and according to the ''Registro General Sanitario de Alimentos'', the general health registry, around 75 different cottage cheeses are produced.<ref name="Web Oficial del Cabildo de Tenerife">{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPZxPfEG93QwMDCwsDAyNXN1PfEA9_AwNPM30_j_zcVP2CbEdFACrQRzo!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfSEk2TElLRzEwMFUxRDAySDk2QzhTNEdQMjE!/|title=Web Oficial del Cabildo de Tenerife|work=tenerife.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-date=25 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225110245/http://www.tenerife.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gPZxPfEG93QwMDCwsDAyNXN1PfEA9_AwNPM30_j_zcVP2CbEdFACrQRzo!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfSEk2TElLRzEwMFUxRDAySDk2QzhTNEdQMjE!/}}</ref> The cheeses of the Canaries have generally received good international reviews, noted for their sweetness which differentiates them from certain other European cheeses.<ref name=naturaycultura/><ref name=islaaisla/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/canarian-info/typical-cuisine-gastronomy/index.html|title=Cheeses of Tenerife-El queso tinerfeño (Official Canary Islands Tourism)|work=turismodecanarias.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629010824/http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/canarian-info/typical-cuisine-gastronomy/index.html|archive-date=29 June 2010}}</ref> In particular, Tenerifan cured goats cheese was awarded best cheese in the world final of the 2008 World Cheese Awards held in Dublin, Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canarias24horas.com/index.php/2008092955917/sociedad/el-queso-de-pimenton-de-arico-gana-el-premio-al-mejor-queso-del-mundo.html|title=Artículo recogido en el periódico digital canarias24horas.com|work=canarias24horas.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121183237/http://canarias24horas.com/index.php/2008092955917/sociedad/el-queso-de-pimenton-de-arico-gana-el-premio-al-mejor-queso-del-mundo.html|archive-date=21 November 2008}}</ref>

Cheeses from Tenerife now have a quality mark promoted by the Fundación Tenerife Rural to standardize quality, highlight their qualities, and improve their marketing.<ref name="Web Oficial del Cabildo de Tenerife"/>

=== Gofio === thumb|right|Gofio escaldado Gofio is one of the more traditional elements of cooking on the island. It is made with cereal grains that are roasted and then ground. Increasingly used to make a gofio on the island is wheat, although there are other types, and they are often made with chickpeas. A relatively common mixed type with wheat. It served as the main food to the ''guanches'' even before the Spanish conquest. In later times of scarcity or famine, it was a staple of the popular Canarian diet. Today, it is eaten as a main dish (gofio escaldado) or as an accompaniment to various dishes, meats, fish, soups, and desserts. Some famous cooks have even made gofio ice cream, receiving positive reviews from critics.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

=== Confectionery === Confectionery in Tenerife is represented and strongly influenced by La Palma, with confections like ''bienmesabe'', ''leche asada'', ''Príncipe Alberto'', ''frangollo'', ''huevos moles'', and ''quesillo''.<ref name="naturaycultura"/><ref name="islaaisla"/>

=== Wines === Viticulture in the archipelago, and especially in Tenerife, dates back to the conquest, when the settlers brought a variety of vines to plant. In the 16th and 17th centuries, wine production played an important role in the economy, and many families were dedicated to the culture and business of wine. Of special mention is ''malvasía canary'', considered the best wine of Tenerife and, at the time, one of the most desired wines in the world, being shipped to the major warehouses of Europe and America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agricultura/icca/jornadas/comercializacion/juanmiguel.pdf|title=Información de las Jornadas de comercialización y marketing vitivinícola desarrolladas por HECANSA|work=gobiernodecanarias.org|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326233915/http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/agricultura/icca/jornadas/comercializacion/juanmiguel.pdf|archive-date=26 March 2009}}</ref> Writers such as William Shakespeare and Walter Scott refer to the wine in some of their works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=8&lang=1&s=1&ID=3167|title=Información del Cabildo de Tenerife en relación con los vinos de Tenerife|work=idecnet.com|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109082301/http://www.puntoinfo.idecnet.com/index.php?sectionID=8&lang=1&s=1&ID=3167|archive-date=9 November 2007}}</ref> Tenerife has 5 main wine growing regions. These include Abona, Valle de Güímar, Valle de La Orotava, Tacoronte-Acentejo and Ycoden-Daute-Isora.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabtfe.es/casa-vino/inicio.htm#|title=Denominaciones de origen (Casa del vino-La Baranda)|work=cabtfe.es|access-date=18 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802203655/http://www.cabtfe.es/Casa-vino/inicio.htm|archive-date=2 August 2011}}</ref>

This typical gastronomy is served in popular establishments known as ''guachinches'', opening day is the day of ''San Andrés'', 30 November, also known as the young wine festival ''Festival de Vino Joven''. The wine of the new harvest is traditionally served with roasted chestnuts, maturing at the same time, and grilled sardines; the season normally lasts from late autumn until early spring.

== In popular culture == {{in popular culture|section|date=January 2023}}

=== Cities === The city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, has a historical inner suburb named Teneriffe, named by one of the first European landowners in the area, James Gibbon, because it reminded him of Mount Teide.<ref>{{cite book |title=Tides of Teneriffe |last=Bridgstock |first=Vicki |year=2009 |publisher=New Farm & Districts Historical Society |location=New Farm, Queensland |isbn=978-0-9805868-1-7 |pages=4–20}}</ref>

Other cities in the world whose name has its origins in the island are: Tenerife, Magdalena, a town and municipality in Colombia; San Carlos de Tenerife, a city in the Dominican Republic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thedominicans.org/tag/san-carlos-de-tenerife/|title = San Carlos de Tenerife | date=6 February 2024 }}</ref>

=== Cinema === Over the last few years,{{clarify|date=January 2023}} Tenerife has become a popular filming location, being featured in several Hollywood blockbusters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/cultura/2017/06/16/canarias-tierra-prometida-hollywood/785312.html|title=Canarias, la tierra prometida de Hollywood|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> Some of the most important films made on the island are: * ''One Million Years B.C.'': British film of 1966 directed by Don Chaffey and shot in Teide National Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060782/locations|title=One Million Years B.C. (1966)|access-date=30 November 2017|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> * ''Clash of the Titans'': American film of 2010, directed by Louis Leterrier. It is mainly located in different locations in Tenerife, such as Teide National Park, Icod de los Vinos, Buenavista del Norte, and Chío pine forests in the municipality of Guía de Isora.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-tenerife-acoge-estreno-furia-titanes-20100329171133.html |title=Tenerife acoge el estreno de 'Furia de Titanes' |access-date=2 April 2010 }}</ref> * ''Wrath of the Titans'': American film 2012, directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Shot largely in the Teide National Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/turismo/destinos/vuelta-al-mundo-por-espana/tenerife/ruta-furia-de-titanes/|title=Ruta Furia de Titanes|website=Guía Repsol|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041254/https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/turismo/destinos/vuelta-al-mundo-por-espana/tenerife/ruta-furia-de-titanes/}}</ref> * ''1898, Our Last Men in the Philippines'': Spanish film of 2012 directed by Salvador Calvo, with some scenes shot in Tenerife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ocio.laopinion.es/cine/noticias/nws-529327-los-ultimos-filipinas-rodada-tenerife-gran-canaria-estrena-trailer.html|title='Los últimos de Filipinas', rodada en Tenerife y Gran Canaria, estrena tráiler|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042410/http://ocio.laopinion.es/cine/noticias/nws-529327-los-ultimos-filipinas-rodada-tenerife-gran-canaria-estrena-trailer.html}}</ref> * ''Fast & Furious 6'': 2013 American film directed by Justin Lin. At the beginning of the movie, Dom, along with Brian, Mia, and their son, lives in Tenerife after their heist in Brazil in ''Fast Five''. Also, the tank chase scene was filmed on part of the Autopista TF-1.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} * ''Jason Bourne'': American film of 2015, directed by Paul Greengrass and shot in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. For this, the city was specially set to simulate the Greek cities of Athens and Piraeus. The Plaza de España, which is the main square in the capital of Tenerife, was decorated to represent the Syntagma Square.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2551344/0/rodaje-bourne-5/matt-damon/santa-cruz-tenerife-atenas/|title=El rodaje de 'Bourne 5' convierte a la ciudad de Santa Cruz de Tenerife en Atenas|publisher=20Minutos|date=8 September 2015 |access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> * ''Rambo: Last Blood'': American film of 2019, directed by Adrian Grunberg and with the performances of Sylvester Stallone, Matt Cirulnick and Paz Vega, among others. It was shot in different locations on the island, such as: different neighborhoods of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, areas of Puerto de la Cruz, Santa Úrsula, Arico and the roads around the Teide National Park, among others places.<ref>[https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-rambo-dejara-tenerife-mas-ocho-millones-euros-20181113140555.html 'Rambo V' dejará en Tenerife más de ocho millones de euros]</ref> * ''Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'': American film of 2025, directed by Christian Gudegast, was largely shot in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.<ref>[https://www.atlanticohoy.com/cultura/trailer-pelicula-hollywood-juego-de-ladrones-tenerife-gerard-butler_1536591_102.html Sale el tráiler de la película Hollywood que Tenerife esperaba: Santa Cruz, protagonista]</ref>

=== Music === Likewise, the island has been home to several musical recordings and has served as a scenic setting for music videos:

* "Tie Your Mother Down": song of the English musician Brian May, who studied different astronomical phenomena from Izaña in the Cañadas del Teide and wrote this song in this national park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laopinion.es/cultura/2011/03/30/guitarrista-brian-may-estaran-starmus/337066.html|title=El guitarrista Brian May estará en 'Starmus' – La Opinión de Tenerife|first=La Opinión de|last=Tenerife|website=laopinion.es|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> * Mike Oldfield included in his compilation ''The Complete Fel'' of 1985, the song "Mount Teide" dedicated to this volcano from Tenerife.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} * The music video of the song "If I Let You Go", filmed on location in Tenerife, depicts Irish boyband Westlife walking along a beach and singing by a hillside surrounded by red and yellow flags.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} * "The Island – Pt. 1 Dawn": video clip of the Australian group Pendulum, which was recorded entirely in Teide National Park and published in 2010. In this video, you can distinguish, from the beginning, the silhouette of Teide volcano and the characteristic landscapes of the Park throughout the filming. * Songwriter and singer Ed Sheeran wrote a song, "Tenerife Sea", for his second studio album ''X'', that mentions the island entitled Tenerife Sea. The title references a line in which Sheeran compares the colour of his love interest's eyes to the sea surrounding the island. * The video clip of the song "Do It for Your Lover", with which the Spanish singer Manel Navarro represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, was recorded in different locations of Tenerife, especially in the Macizo de Anaga and in El Porís (Arico).<ref>[http://www.laopinion.es/cultura/2017/03/09/tenerife-estara-eurovision/756229.html Tenerife estará en Eurovisión]</ref><ref>[http://www.rtve.es/rtve/20170222/manel-navarro-graba-tenerife-videoclip-do-it-for-your-lover/1493781.shtml Manel Navarro graba en Tenerife el videoclip de 'Do it for your lover']</ref> * Singer Blas Cantó (representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020) recorded in Tenerife and Lanzarote the video clip of the song "Universo", with which he represents Spain.<ref>[https://www.canarias7.es/multimedia/videos/primeras-imagenes-del-universo-de-blas-canto-CC8589884 Primeras imágenes del 'Universo' de Blas Cantó]</ref>

=== Video games === * ''Asphalt 8: Airborne'' features four race tracks on Tenerife.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tusitiowindowsphone.es/2015/06/asphalt-8-airborne-anade-la-ubicacion.html |title=Asphalt 8: Airborne añade la ubicación de Tenerife y más |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826113539/http://www.tusitiowindowsphone.es/2015/06/asphalt-8-airborne-anade-la-ubicacion.html }}</ref> * ''Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis'' houses that fictional Kolgujev island, based on Tenerife. * In ''My Summer Car'', the main character's parents go to Tenerife on vacation.

=== In literature === Literary works featuring Tenerife include "The Companion" and "The Man from the Sea", both by Agatha Christie; ''La cueva de las mil momias'' by Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa; ''Thieves' Picnic'' by Leslie Charteris; and ''El Sarcófago de las tres llaves'' by Pompeyo Reina Moreno.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doce libros ambientados en Canarias |url=http://www.laopinion.es/cultura/2016/02/12/doce-libros-ambientados-canarias/655706.html |access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> and ''Atentado'' by Mariano Gambín.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tenerife |first1=La Opinión de |url=http://www.laopinion.es/tenerife/2015/11/21/atentado-templo-masonico/640791.html|title='Atentado' en el Templo Masónico|access-date=30 November 2017}}</ref>

== International relations == {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}

Tenerife is twinned with:

* {{Flagicon|USA}} Miami-Dade, United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-ocupacion-primer-mes-vuelo-tenerife-miami-air-europa-alcanza-ya-70-ciento-20090525142415.html|title=La ocupación para el primer mes del vuelo Tenerife-Miami de Air Europa alcanza ya el 70 por ciento|date=25 May 2009|publisher=Europa Press|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> * {{Flagicon|Dominican Republic}} Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diariodeavisos.com/2013/03/acto-hermanamiento-entre-tenerife-santo-domingo-en-octubre/|title=El acto de hermanamiento entre Tenerife y Santo Domingo, en octubre|work=diariodeavisos.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Spain|Islands}} * Bichon Tenerife * {{section link|List of free economic zones|Spain}} * List of volcanoes in Spain * María del Carmen Betancourt y Molina * Observatorio del Teide

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons and category|Tenerife}} {{Wikivoyage|Tenerife}} * [http://www.cabtfe.es/ Island Government of Tenerife] * {{Wikiatlas|the Canary Islands}} * {{Cite gvp|name=Tenerife|vn=383030|access-date=2021-06-26}}

{{Tenerife}} {{Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands}} {{Outlying territories of European countries}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Tenerife Category:Former monarchies of Europe Tenerife Category:Islands of the Canary Islands Category:Miocene volcanism Category:Pleistocene volcanism Category:Pliocene volcanism