Malpaís de Güímar, Special Nature Reserve in southeastern Tenerife, Spain.
Malpaís de Güímar is a nature reserve in southeastern Tenerife that covers volcanic terrain with dark basaltic rock and hardened lava flows extending toward the coast. The landscape consists of bare slopes and jagged ground with sparse vegetation.
The area received protection in 1987, leading to the establishment of a management board in 1989 and official designation as Special Nature Reserve in 1994. This legal status preserved the volcanic landscape from further development.
The tabaiba plant grows abundantly across the slopes and was traditionally harvested by locals to produce a milky substance used for latex. This practice shaped how people have lived alongside the volcanic landscape for centuries.
The terrain is dry and sunny year-round with mild weather, so bring water and watch for sun exposure. Sturdy shoes are essential since the rough volcanic rock can be uneven and difficult to walk on.
Montana Grande crater is asymmetrically shaped because winds during the volcano's formation eroded one side more than the other. This uneven form is the result of wind erosion over millions of years.
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