Timanfaya

Timanfaya National Park or Parque Nacional de Timanfaya is a Spanish national park covering the municipalities of southern portion of Tinajo and the northern portion of Yaiza. The park is located in the southwestern part of the island of Lanzarote. The area is 51.07 km². The parkland is entirely made up of volcanic soil. The greatest recorded eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736. The volcanic activity continues as the surface temperature in the core ranges from 100 to 600 ºC at the depth of 13m, which is demonstrated by pouring water into the ground, resulting in a geyser of steam which is an attraction for tourists. In 1993, UNESCO granted the qualification for the Biospherical Reserve.

The statue "El Diablo" by César Manrique is its symbol. The park is open to the public, and conducts tours of the volcanic landscape by coach.

View of the Timanfaya National Park from the Isolete de Hilario

A trip to the Moon
The impressive fields of solidified lava that make up this island convert Timanfaya into the land of the volcanoes.

Different volcanic eruptions and magma activity throughout its history, make this land what it is today. From the nature viewpoint of Montaña Rajada you can admire a vast sea of lava that reaches the coastline. Particularly impressive are: the undulations, strident forms created by the lava...Since then its inhabitants have learned to live alongside this unusual and pretty landscape, and have even dry farmed melons, onions, tomatoes and also vines in La Geria.

Access on foot allowed, provided you stay on the coastal area of the National Park and use the trail that runs along the shore. To gain access to the rest of the park, you must arrange your visit through one of the Visitor Centres.

Natural assets

The park is divided into two ecosystems: land and marine. In the first, dominated by a lunar landscape, appear different environmental features, such as cones of volcanic origin. sea of lava, 'tabaibal' (old areas not covered by recent lava and in which vegetation abounds), crops, beaches and cliffs. The formations found in the marine ecosystem are: geysers and hot springs, rocks, black sandy beaches and flat rocks. In this exceptional landscape, numerous species have developed adaptational processes that have been the subject of many studies.

Cultural surroundings

The spectacular and astounding landscape has conditioned human life in the surrounding areas. One of the most interesting cultural elements, clearly explained in the Visitors Centre, is the relation of the region's inhabitants with their particular natural environment throughout history.