International Tenerife Memorial March 27, 1977, Memorial monument in Tegueste, Spain
The International Tenerife Memorial March 27, 1977 is a spiral-shaped monument on the Mesa Mota hilltop in northern Tenerife, built to honor the victims of the deadliest aviation accident in history. The structure rises through a series of ascending steps that wind upward and open toward the sky.
On March 27, 1977, two fully loaded passenger aircraft collided on the runway at Los Rodeos airport, killing nearly 600 people. The disaster led to major changes in aviation communication and safety protocols around the world.
The memorial's name directly references March 27, 1977, keeping the date present in visitors' minds throughout the visit. Families from the Netherlands and the United States return here regularly to gather and pay their respects together.
The memorial sits on the Mesa Mota hilltop and is reached by following marked walking paths through the surrounding park area. Sturdy footwear is recommended as the route climbs uphill and the terrain can be uneven.
The monument was designed by a Dutch artist, a detail that reflects the fact that one of the two aircraft involved belonged to KLM, the Dutch airline. From the top of the spiral, visitors look directly down toward the runway area of today's airport, where the collision took place.
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