Chinijo Archipelago
Archipelago in the Canary Islands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Chinijo Archipelago (pronounced [tʃiˈnixo]) is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands. The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island. The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's reduced dimensions. The Chinijo Archipelago forms part of the national park Parque natural del Archipiélago established in 1986, and is part of a large marine reserve.
Native name: Archipiélago Chinijo | |
|---|---|
Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza from above | |
 Map of Chinijo Archipelago | |
| Etymology | Small archipelago |
| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Total islands | 5 |
| Area | 40.9 km2 (15.8 sq mi)[1] |
| Coastline | 54.435 km (33.8243 mi)[2] |
| Administration | |
| Autonomous Community | Canary Islands |
| Province | Las Palmas |
| Island | Lanzarote |
| Municipality | Teguise |
| Largest settlement | Caleta de Sebo (pop. 730) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 734 (2018)[3] |
| Languages | Spanish, specifically Canarian Spanish |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
History
The Chinijo Archipelago is primarily of volcanic origin, with its islets formed approximately 10 million years ago by the activity of a corona volcano in northern Lanzarote.[4] French explorer Jean de Béthencourt, who explored Lanzarote in the early 1400s, traversed the waters leading to La Graciosa in the Chinijo Archipelago.[5] The archipelago was declared as part of the Natural Park of Parque natural del Archipiélago in 1986.[6] It forms part of one of the largest marine reserves in Europe.[6] The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's smaller dimensions.[7]
Geography
Chinijo is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands.[8] The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island.[6][5] La Graciosa has a historical livelihood rooted in fishing, with small boats traditionally bringing fresh catches to shore.[6]
The natural park covers a total area 91.12 km2 (35.2 sq mi), also includes part of the rocky north coast of the island Lanzarote (los riscos de Famara). The area of the natural park overlaps with that of a separately designated marine reserve.[9][10] The European Union designated a Special Protection Area for birds in 1994.[11]
Topography
The Chinijo Archipelago consists of predominantly volcanic highlands characterized by numerous volcanic cones and craters. Montaña Clara in the islands the largest volcanic crater in the archipelago.[4] The topography consists of white sandy beaches interspersed with black volcanic rocks along the oast.[5] Risco de Famara is a large cliff on the northern coast of Lanzarote, which offers an overall view of the archipelago.[5]
| Volcano | Commune / Locality |
Description | Altitude | Photograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montaña Amarilla, | La Graciosa 29°13′0″N 13°32′0″W |
Volcanic cone | 172 m | .jpg) |
| Montaña Bermeja | La Graciosa | Volcanic cone | 157 m | |
| Montaña Lobos | Close to coast of Alegranza 29°23′0″N 13°30′0″W | Volcanic cone | 221 m | |
| Montaña del Mojon | Coast of La Graciosa 29°14′0″N 13°30′0″W | Volcanic cone | 188 m | |
| Montaña de Pedre Barba | La Graciosa 29°15′0″N 13°30′0″W |
Volcanic cone | 266 m |  |
| Montaña Clara | Montaña Clara 29°17′0″N 13°32′0″W | Volcanic cone | 256 m |  |
| Roque del Oeste | Teguise, Chinijo | Volcanic cone | 41 m |  |
| Roque del Este | Teguise, Chinijo | Volcanic cone | 84 m | .jpg) |
