No. 24 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

34
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 24
Bandama, the youngest jewel on the island
By Mathias Valles
La Caldera de Bandama is one of the main geological
attractions of Gran Canaria, and is certainly
a place worth visiting if you have a few spare days
on this beautiful island and want to go on a day
out to enjoy nature.
A caldera or basin is a gigantic depression in the
ground and can be formed for different reasons.
Specifically, the Caldera de Bandama is one of the
rarest types of caldera that exists, as its formation
was caused by a phreatic explosion, which occurs
when the basaltic magma on its way up to the
surface meets an aquifer. This leads to a colossal
explosion that exerts an enormous pressure and
ends up bursting up through the whole area.
However, the word caldera does not actually
come from Spanish, but has been taken from the
Portuguese (caldeira), which is widely used in the
Azores to designate the large rounded depressions
that are also present in the volcanic landscape
there.
But let's start from the beginning. Geologically
speaking, Gran Canaria is a relatively young island.
To get an idea, if we focus our attention on the
Canary Islands as a whole, we see that the oldest
islands originated approximately 20 million years
ago, while the creation of Gran Canaria dates from
around 14.5 million years ago, while the formation
of an island such as El Hierro is dated at only 1 million
years old.
Geological studies have shown that the Caldera
de Bandama, as it can be seen today, was created
by a volcanic process of an explosive nature and
this event dates back between 4,000 and 5,000
years. In other words, we are dealing with one of
the youngest natural jewels of the island.
This area of great natural beauty is located at an altitude
of 516 metres above sea level, has a diameter of
approximately 1 kilometre and a depth of more than
200 metres. Taking these stats into account, this
natural monument is one of the largest calderas in
the Canary archipelago.
"
"La Caldera de Bandama
is one of the main
geological attractions
of Gran Canaria"
If we turn to the etymology of Bandama, we see that
it is the Spanish version of a surname of Flemish origin:
Van Damme. Daniel Van Damme was a Belgian
who emigrated from Antwerp to Gran Canaria
around 1565 and established himself over time as an
important merchant. Years later, he bought the land
occupied by the Caldera de ‘Bandama’ and was the
first to exploit the agricultural activity in its interior,
dedicating himself to the cultivation of vines. Curiously,
even today, grape growing is still particularly
important in the area and its wines are renowned
for their excellent quality.
One of the best ways to explore the caldera is by going
on a hike. There are several trails that lead you
down into the caldera, through exotic vegetation,
past large boulders and past fascinating fauna. If
you're looking for the best views, a trail of almost 3
km runs around the perimeter of the caldera and
you'll be accompanied at all times by a stunning
postcard view of the Atlantic Ocean and the island
as a whole.
Another option worth considering is a visit to the
Bandama viewpoint, which affords a panoramic
view of the caldera. The viewpoint is equipped with
information panels to help you better understand
the geological history of the caldera, together with
benches enabling you to relax and cast your eye
over the landscape. Another viewpoint inside the
caldera - and my favourite - is the Mirador del Cornical,
which allows us to appreciate the caldera from
the inside in greater detail and savour the plant
spectacle it is home to, mainly plant species such
as mastic trees, wild olive trees, palm trees, dragon
trees, junipers, almacigos, tajinastes and guaydiles.
The vertebrate fauna is represented by the three
endemic reptiles of the island: the giant lizard of
Gran Canaria, the Boettger's perenquén lizard and
the Gran Canaria striped mullet. Although birds are
the best represented group thanks to the geology
and vegetation of the area, as they contribute to
the creation of suitable habitats for nesting tagarote
falcons, Canary Island kestrels and short-eared
owls. All this fauna and flora is an added bonus that
should encourage us to visit this place.
In addition to the caldera, there are several places of
a similar nature to Bandama that are a visitor’s paradise,
one of them being the Tamadaba Natural Park,
a protected area that also boasts a great variety of
flora and fauna, excellent for hiking and simply enjoying
nature.
In short, the Caldera de Bandama is a must-see
place to visit in Gran Canaria if you are looking to experience
fine natural surroundings, offering a wide
variety of outdoor activities and a unique opportunity
to explore the geological history of the island.