Position
Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary Islands, represent a necessary passage between Europe, Africa and America.
Its distance from mainland Spain is approximately 1000 kilometres and about 100 kilometres from the African coast.
To the north of Lanzarote, there are 5 small islands, called Chinijo ("small") Archipelago

Geography
Lanzarote is the most oriental and northern of the Canary Islands.
It occupies a surface of more than 800 km2 and its territory is low and not very mountainous. The maximum height does not reach the 700 metres over the sea level.
It is an island with a volcanic physiognomy and origin

History
The ancient population of the Canaries is known generally as "guanches", and many remainders of their lifestyle can still be found.
In 1312 the Genovese navigator Lancelotto Maloncello, reached the Island and named it after himself.
In 1402, the take-over of the Canary Island started, specifically from Lanzarote, and they became from then until today as part of the kingdom of Spain.
The take-over of Lanzarote took place in pacific way, but the conquest of all the Archipelago took almost a hundred years.

Territory
Declared as Biosphere reserve in 1993 for its valuable natural resources, it has a territorial and urban plan of development for the entire island, considering a maximum amount of tourist beds and an annual rhythm of growth to reach it.
The use of the territory is strictly regulated.
Moreover, 12 sites are protected by the Canary Law of Natural Zones, counting as well with one of the 12 Spanish National Parks: Timanfaya. 90% of the land has some sort of legal protection.

Climate
The average annual temperature is 20°C/68°F, very similar to the one of the sea.
The average temperature in August is 24,6°C/76,28°F, and the January one is 17°C/62.6°F.
These temperatures make it an exceptional climate due to the geographic position and to the sea influence.
Considering the proximity to the Sahara desert, the climate is not the desert type due to the Mexican Gulf Stream which acts as an atmospheric regulator especially on the coast.
Since it almost does not rain (approx. 86,0 mm/yr), the water is obtained through desalination of the sea water.

more tourist information at: www.spain.info
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