No. 25 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

34
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 25
A string of viewpoints
The island of Gran Canaria can be enjoyed
in endless ways, each of them amazing
visitors with a unique perspective and
experience which will win them over for
good.
Roque Nublo
Our first stop is right at the heart of the
island, at the stunning Roque Nublo,
Gran Canaria’s true emblem and Natural
Monument. It is an enormous monolith
of volcanic origin that rises nearly 90 metres
from its base and 1,813 metres above
sea level. It was used as a place of worship
by the Canary aboriginal dwellers
and it is easy to understand why going
up to the base and enjoying the peace
and quiet of the natural surroundings at
the Nublo Natural Park and a large part
of the island’s Biosphere Reserve is such
a pleasure. The local vegetation comprising
broom, laburnum and sage combines
with the Canary pine forest to provide an
exotic aroma. Visitors can also spot all
kind of fauna in the shape of reptiles, lizards,
skinks and geckos, plus woodpeckers,
blue chaffinches, blue tits, crows and
warblers, and birds of prey including kestrels,
buzzards, sparrow hawks and owls.
There is a highly accessible footpath that
begins at Degollada de La Goleta, at kilometre
point 11 on the GC-600 main road,
which is a 40-minute walk to the base of
the Roque Nublo, with appropriate footwear,
sufficient water and a minimum
level of fitness. It is especially recommended
to calculate the ascent time in
order to watch the sunset from the summit.
You will be at a loss for words to describe
the breaktaking landscape that
unfolds before you.
Andén Verde or El Balcón
Roque Nublo
The Andén Verde or El Balcón viewpoint,
which is located in the municipality of La
Aldea de San Nicolás, on the island’s west
coast, is part of the Tamadaba Natural
Park. It affords stunning views over the
Atlantic from the top of a range of cliffs,
with the famous 'dragon’s tail' spread out
before us, so called because this string of
pointed mountain peaks resembles this
mythological creature. We are standing
at the oldest part of the island in geological
terms, and we are treated to the volcanic
lava flows that raised up the land
from the depths of the ocean some 15
million years ago. The area is said to have
suffered a huge collapse in the shape of
a 20-kilometre long arch between La Aldea
and Sardina, in the municipality of
Gáldar. In addition to a magical sunset,
the viewpoint provides panoramic views
over the neighbouring island of Tenerife;
and on a curious note, a new volcano is
rising up some 2,500 metres under water
between the islands and has already
reached 500 metres in height. As for the
local vegetation, standout endemic species
include cardoon and tabaiba plants
that are scattered all around the cliffs, accompanied
by birds such as shearwaters
and petrels. In order to access the viewpoint,
we have to take the road between
Agaete and La Aldea de San Nicolás or
viceversa, and turn off at the signpost for
Andén Verde.
Maspalomas Dunes
Mirador El Balcón
At the heart of the Maspalomas Dunes
Special Natural Reserve is this viewpoint
which looks out over over one of the top
tourist attractions in the south of Gran
Canaria, an area of sand dunes covering
over 400 hectares, that look like huge
golden mountains, rising up just metres
from the Atlantic Ocean. The dunes boast
a huge ecological value, as the nearby
pond is home to numerous bird species,
both nesting and migratory birds, together
with reptiles such as the Gran Canaria
giant lizard. In addition, the site is of great
scientific interest, treasuring unique and
beautiful geomorphological and geological
elements. The viewpoint is accessed
along the Paseo Costa Canaria at the
junction with Avenida de Alemania, and
offers, in addition to unrivalled views over
the dunes, panoramic views all along the
strip of coastland at the municipality of
San Bartolomé de Tirajana.