Interesting facts about Lanzarote’s volcanoes:
- The island, as well as others, emerged about 15 million years ago as a result of the break-up of the African and American continental plates
- Lanzarote is commonly known across the world as the ‘Island of Volcanoes’ and sometimes the ‘Island of 1,000 volcanoes’
- Lanzarote is a ‘shield’ volcano – a broad domed volcano with gently sloping sides
- The fissure eruptions in the 1730’s created 32 new volcanoe.
- Many lava tubes were created when molten lava continued flowing as the surface hardened, leading of tubes which go down under the Atlantic Ocean
- The longest lava tube in the world is in Lanzarote, the Tunel de La Atlantida stretches for over 7km and encompases La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua
- You can see other lava tubes meeting the see at Los Hervideros (the boilers) near El Golfo
- The volcanoes in the Timanfaya Natural Park are still active and temperatures a mere 10 mtrs below the surface can reach a scorching 600°C
- Timanfaya has been the backdrop for blockbusters such as Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Journey to the Center of the Earth and popular television Doctor Who!
