Island Hopping 2024: Canary Islands; El Teide

I would not have believed it, but man cannot live on rest, relaxation, luxuriant surroundings and unending servings of Spanish Ham alone.  So today we set out to see some of the island's wonders.

Today's route

As both the highest point in the Canary Islands and the highest peak in the Atlantic, Mount (El) Teide is not only a prominent feature of the archipelago but also a significant geological and natural landmark in the broader Atlantic region. Its unique volcanic landscapes and the surrounding Teide National Park attract visitors and scientists alike, offering a glimpse into the dynamic geological history of the area, along with being a near perfect platform for astronomical observance.  The Ocean and the Mountain, in my mind, form a symbiotic relationship of sea, land and universe.  The grandeur of each only magnified by the presence of the other.  

Sandy and I drove a large loop along the Southern and Eastern shoreline of Tenerife Island and then cut across the heart of the island, up to the highest drivable point of El Teide, and then down the other side.  We passed through the dry Arizona like eastern shore and then headed up the twisting road that was to take us to the top of the Volcano.  Eventually we reached an altitude where the Canary Island Pines created a forest, and then above that, (above the tree line) we were driving on a road cut into  basaltic lava flows, cinder fields and huge calderas.  This drive  certainly gave me the feeling that all was not finished in El Teide’s ongoing resistance to the power and size of the Ocean.

The rugged shoreline and black sand beach of Playa Los Roques

The lower elevations

The altitude of the Canary Island Pines

At every view point whether looking East, West, North or South, the Atlantic Ocean is there

Institutio de Astrofisica de Canarios (IAC), Observatorio del Teide:  The Canary Island's Government, in conjunction with the Spanish Federal Government, has a "Law of the Sky" which protects astrophysical quality of the air and atmosphere above and around the islands.  They protect the atmosphere relying heavily on wind, solar, geothermal, and waves (in the Atlantic) to create their energy.  Commercial air craft landing routes are designed to cause the least possible atmospheric disturbance.  The Calima with a mind of its own is generally a weather condition below the altitude of the Observatories.

Sandy next to a snow stake. It is there so the plows know where the road is and how deep the snowfall is.  Note they are prepared for snow twice Sandy's height

A desert in the sky, about 10,000 feet

These are pictures of ancient calderas on El Teide's flanks, not El Teide itself

El Teide himself, awesome!

A well deserved post-exploration cocktail