Roques de Anaga, Nature reserve in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Spain.
Roques de Anaga are two massive stone pillars that rise from the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Tenerife. The taller formation, Roque de Tierra, reaches about 179 meters (587 feet), while its smaller companion, Roque de Fuera, stands at roughly 66 meters (216 feet).
The Spanish government established Roques de Anaga as an integral nature reserve in 1987 to protect its geological formations and native species. This designation recognized the importance of these isolated rocks as refuge for rare and endangered species.
The reserve functions as an educational center where researchers study the ecological systems of the Canary Islands and conduct environmental monitoring programs.
Access is by boat only, so visitors should plan a boat trip from the coast and bring sturdy shoes and weather protection. Strong winds and rough sea conditions are common, so it is important to prepare for variable circumstances.
Roque de Fuera is the only home to Gallotia galloti insulanagae, a giant lizard species found nowhere else in the world. This isolated population has evolved over generations in completely undisturbed conditions.
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