Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero, Special nature reserve in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Spain
Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero is a protected volcanic landscape in Tenerife featuring multiple cones and extensive lava formations scattered across the terrain. The vegetation here includes pine forests and low scrub plants that have adapted to survive in the nutrient-poor volcanic soil.
The area was shaped by Tenerife's most recent volcanic eruption in 1909, when Chinyero remained active for ten days and reshaped the landscape with lava flows. This event left lasting marks still visible in the volcanic formations seen today.
The reserve contains 14 volcanic cones that represent recent volcanic activity in Tenerife, making it an important site for geological research.
The reserve is accessible from several municipalities including El Tanque, Garachico, and Santiago del Teide via marked walking trails for visitors. Sturdy footwear and sun protection are recommended since the volcanic terrain is exposed and the ground is uneven.
The reserve is home to over 100 plant species found nowhere else in the world that have adapted to the dry volcanic soils. These plants obtain moisture directly from the air through wind-borne water vapor, a remarkable survival strategy in this barren landscape.
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