- an entirely different island is Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera off Morocco
| La Gomera | |
|---|---|
 Flag of La Gomera |
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| Geography | |
 |
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| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | |
| Archipelago | Canary Islands |
| Area | 369,76 km² |
| Highest point | Garajonay 1,484 m |
| Administration | |
 Spain |
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| Autonomous Community | Canary Islands |
| Province | Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)
(8451) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 21,952 (as of 2006) |
| Density | 55,32/km² |
La Gomera is the second-smallest of Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish It is located at . Gomera is an Arabic word meaning 'small firebrand'.
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Political organization
La Gomera is part of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. History This province was established when in 1927 when the Canarias province (with Santa Cruz de Tenerife as the capital city divided into two provinces It is divided into six municipalities:
The island government (cabildo insular) is located in the capital, San Sebastián. This is a list of the municipalities in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Autonomous community of the Canary Islands, Spain. Statistics The population is 1221 ( ISTAC 2003 its density is 47 History Historically the area of Alajeró was in areas known as Hipalán and Orone. Historical population History The area before the founding of the municipality were inhabited by the Guanches. Settlements Valle Bajo divides the settlements of El Curato and El Palmerejo Valle Alto divides the settlements of La Castellana and Playa Hermigua Subdivisions Arure La Calera (capital situated in a hilly and mountainous setting and are surrounded by dry grass and a couple of palms while the remainder Subdivisions Alojera Arguamul El Cercado Chipude La Dama Epina El Ingenio
Ecology
The island is of volcanic origin and roughly circular, about 22 km (15 miles) in diameter and rising to 1487 m (nearly 5000 feet) at the central peak of Garajonay. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the It is shaped rather like half of a peeled orange from which the segments have been parted, leaving deep ravines or barrancos which are coated, like icing, with laurisilva - or laurel rain forest. Laurisilva or laurissilva ("laurel forest" is an endemic type of Humid subtropical Laurel forest found on several
The upper reaches of this densely wooded region are almost permanently shrouded in cloud and swirling mist, which has created lush and diverse vegetation. This is the Garajonay National Park which enjoys UNESCO recognition and protection of the environment. Garajonay National Park (Parque nacional de Garajonay is located in the center and north of the island of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands ( Spain United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 The slopes are criss-crossed by paths, presenting varying levels of challenge to walkers, and stunning views to reward the energetic.
The central mountains catch the moisture from the trade wind clouds and create a jungle climate rich in vegetation high in the cooler air, which contrasts with the warmer sun-baked cliffs near sea level. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator.
Between these extremes is a fascinating range of vegetation, and the Gomerans have for centuries farmed the lower levels, channelling water for the irrigation of their vines, fruits and vegetables, such as bananas.
Culture
In 2003, some 19,580 people lived on La Gomera. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
The local wine is distinctive, and complements a tapa (snack) of Gomerian cheese, roasted pork or goat meat.
The Gomerans have a unique way of communicating across the valleys by an amazing kind of whistled speech called Silbo. Whistled languages use whistling to emulate speech and facilitate communication Silbo Gomero ("El Silbo" or "Gomeran Whistle" is a Whistled language spoken by inhabitants of La Gomera in the Canary Islands to communicate Silbo Gomero language, a whistled language, is an indigenous language, whose existence was known since Roman times. Silbo Gomero ("El Silbo" or "Gomeran Whistle" is a Whistled language spoken by inhabitants of La Gomera in the Canary Islands to communicate Whistled languages use whistling to emulate speech and facilitate communication Invented by the original inhabitants of the island, the Guanches, Silbo was adopted by the Spanish settlers in the 16th century and survived after the extinction of the Guanches. See also Canary Islands in pre-colonial times Guanches (also Guanchis or Guanchos) now extinct as a distinct people were the first known When this unique medium of communication was about to die out early in the 21st century, the local government required all children to learn it in school. The 21st century is the current century of the Christian Era or Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
The aboriginal inhabitants of La Gomera worshipped their God Orahan in the mountains, as their grand sanctuary, the summit and centre of the island. Many of the natives took refuge in this sacred territory in 1489, when they were facing imminent defeat at the hands of the Spaniards, and it was here that the conquest of La Gomera was completed. Several ceremonial stone constructions have appeared in the archaeological findings. Here they set up sacrificial altar stones or "pyres", stones or slate hollows or cavities where they offered up part of the bounty they received from their God, especially goats and sheep on the sacrificial fires. On La Gomera the God was named Orahan, on La Palma he is known as Abora and on Tenerife and Gran Canaria he was named Arocan.
Christopher Columbus made La Gomera his last port of call before crossing the Atlantic in 1492. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer Columbus stopped at Gomera for wine and water, intending to stay only four days. He became romantically involved with Beatriz de Bobadilla, Governor of Gomera, and he stayed a month. When he finally sailed she gave him cuttings of sugarcane, which became the first to reach the New World. The house in San Sebastián in which he stayed is now a tourist attraction. Historical population History The area before the founding of the municipality were inhabited by the Guanches.
Notable natives and residents
- Antonio José Ruiz de Padrón (1757-1823), Franciscan priest and politician.
- José Aguiar (1895-1975), painter.
- Pedro García Cabrera (1905-1981), writer and poet. Pedro García Cabrera ( August 19, 1905 - March 20, 1981) was a Spanish writer and poet
External links
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