Bandama Caldera, Volcanic crater at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Bandama Caldera is a volcanic crater near Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with a depth of 216 meters and a diameter of 1,100 meters. The steep inner walls and flat crater floor create a natural bowl where vegetation grows in distinct zones based on elevation and moisture.
The crater formed between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago through volcanic eruptions in this region. The most recent eruption occurred roughly 1,970 years ago and shaped the landscape visitors see today.
The name comes from Daniel Van Damme, a Flemish merchant who brought vineyard farming to the crater's interior during the 16th century. The terraces and old stone walls he helped establish remain visible today as reminders of this agricultural past.
Access to the crater is through marked hiking trails that lead to both the rim and the interior. The paths are easy to walk during the day but can become slippery in rain, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The crater walls display multiple layers from different volcanic eruptions, like pages of a geological history book opened wide. These colored strata tell the story of the island's complex volcanic past.
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