La Gomera, Volcanic island in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Spain.
Description
La Gomera rises 1,484 meters (4,869 feet) above the Atlantic, forming a circular landmass with steep cliffs and deep valleys across 370 square kilometers (143 square miles). The center of the island is covered by dense cloud forests, while the coasts feature black sand beaches and fishing villages.
History
Christopher Columbus chose San Sebastián de La Gomera as his final supply point for the first voyage to America in 1492, gathering water and provisions there. The original inhabitants of the island, the Gomeros, lived in caves and small settlements before the Spanish conquest in the 15th century.
Culture
The Silbo Gomero language transmits messages through whistles across the valleys, reaching distances up to five kilometers through the mountainous terrain. Shepherds and farmers still use this technique today to communicate in hard-to-reach areas.
Practical
Six municipalities connect through a road network, with San Sebastián serving as the main entry point for ferries from the island of Tenerife. The roads are winding and narrow, so visitors should allow extra travel time for journeys through the mountainous areas.
Did you know?
Garajonay National Park contains a prehistoric laurel forest ecosystem that existed before the Ice Age, now protected as UNESCO World Heritage. This forest captures moisture from the trade winds and supplies the island with water.
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Garajonay National Park
1.7 km
Monumento Natural de La Fortaleza
5.4 km
Torre del Conde
11.5 km
Roque de Agando
1.5 km
Los Órganos
12.4 km
Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
12 km
Exterior of the Church of la Asunción, San Sebastián de la Gomera
11.5 km
Charco del Conde
11.5 kmMajona Natural Park
7.2 km
Alojera
11.6 kmMuseo Arqueológico de La Gomera
11.5 km
Las Hayas (Valle Gran Rey)
6.8 km
San Cristóbal Lighthouse
12.4 kmCasa Bencomo
11.5 km
Jardín Botánico del Descubrimiento de Vallehermoso
8.8 km
Playa de Vallehermoso
10.2 km
Playa de San Sebastián
11.6 km
La Caleta de Hermigua
8.6 km
Playa del Medio
9.7 km
Colón
11.4 km
Playa de Ávalo
11.7 km
Playa de las Salinas
10.3 km
Playa de La Puntilla
11.6 km
Playa de El Cabrito
9.9 km
Hautacuperche statue, Valle Gran Rey
11.6 km
Roque Cano
8.2 km
Casa de la Aguada
11.6 km
Playa de Santiago
10 km
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