Volcano Teide. Tenerife. Spain. One of the most grandiose volcanoes in the world - Teide When was the last eruption of the Teide volcano

The Teide volcano is located in the Canary Islands. It is considered the highest point in Spain. After all, it is she who owns the island of Tenerife, which actually represents the spurs of this fire-breathing mountain. The volcano is the center of the National Park of the same name and attracts many tourists. Let's go to virtual tour for this miracle of nature. And at the same time we’ll find out what kind of volcano this is. We will tell you why it is famous and why so many people are so eager to see it.

Description

Administratively, the Teide volcano belongs to the municipality of La Orotava. Its height is 3700 meters above sea level. But this mountain rises from the bottom of the ocean, and the island of Tenerife is only a visible part of it. Therefore, the total height of the Teide volcano, including underwater slopes, is about seven and a half kilometers. The top of the mountain and the crater are sometimes covered with snow, although the islands themselves are located in the south. On its territory the first one in Spain was founded and is considered the third largest volcanic island in the world. In this regard, the national park is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A bit of geology and history

The Teide volcano was formed approximately 150 thousand years ago. Then a very strong eruption occurred, as a result of which another fire-breathing mountain arose - Las Cañadas. Then its top fell inward. A huge basin appeared. On its northern slopes, after several eruptions of magma, our Teide volcano arose. The eruption from its crater, as legend says, was seen by Christopher Columbus when he sailed past Canary Islands. In 1492, he left a note in his logbook that a huge hellfire was burning in the Orotava Valley. But modern historians and geologists have refuted this legend. It turns out that it was not Teide that erupted that year, but another volcano, Boca Gangrejo. The fact is that the cone of the fire-breathing mountain occupies most of the island. But on its slopes magma erupted in other places. And each time small volcanoes formed. They all have names.

Is Mount Teide dangerous today?

Local residents have always been afraid of this mountain. According to their beliefs, the evil demon Guayota lives inside her. They advise against disturbing him. There is a legend that one day this demon stole the sun, and his children stole livestock from people and destroyed crops, taking advantage of the darkness. Then the deity Achaman imprisoned the spirit in the depths of the volcano, and when he wakes up, he tries to annoy someone. And indeed, sometimes eruptions follow year after year, destroying everything around. People especially suffered from them in the eighteenth century. In 1706, an eruption destroyed the local port and the city of Garachico on the slopes of the mountain. But since 1798 the volcano has no longer raged. Now he is sleeping, and from his petrified lava the islanders make various crafts and souvenirs and sell them to tourists.

How to get there

You can get to the volcano by car, using several routes. But if you find yourself in Tenerife without a car or don’t know how to drive, don’t despair. You can get to the crater lift by public transport. This is bus number 342. It leaves for Teide lower station around 9 am and arrives two hours later. After all, you have to drive along serpentine roads. He goes back around half past three. Therefore, there is no need to be late. This is the only bus and there are no other buses.

Cable car

As we have already said, you can reach the Teide volcano crater by highway. It is laid to an altitude of 2300 meters. Next is the lower station cable car. It was built in 1971 specifically for tourists. The funicular to Teide volcano consists of carriages. Each of them is designed for 45 passengers. In a matter of minutes, the funicular lifts the trailer to a height of almost 1200 meters. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 27 euros. The height difference is very large, so people with blood pressure problems need to take this into account. But this is not the very top yet. Further you can only go on foot. But the remaining 160 meters of ascent are not accessible to everyone. In order to get to the very top, you need to get a special pass. It must be ordered in advance. By the way, there are strong winds in the Canary Islands in winter. Because of this, the funicular may not work. Therefore, tourists advise those who arrive in Tenerife in winter time, call the cable car and ask if it is open. It is better to buy tickets online. Then they will indicate the boarding time, and you will not have to wait in a long line.

Tourist value

Of course, there are a lot of attractions in the Canary Islands. Amazing water parks and botanical gardens, black sand beaches and But all this pales in comparison to the Teide volcano. Being in Tenerife and not visiting it is the same as not seeing the pyramids in Egypt, and in Bangkok - Royal Palace. No wonder many famous participants were drawn to this mountain around the world expeditions. But since there was no cable car then, the journey to the top took several days. Both Captain Cook and Charles Darwin were on the volcano. The famous naturalist Alexander Humboldt climbed to its summit in thirty hours. But when tourists appeared and began to pay money for the spectacles, the local residents began to adapt to their needs. By the way, the volcano itself is depicted on the coat of arms of Tenerife, and its name is modern. Before Spanish colonization it was called Echeide.

Visit to the crater

If you want to go into the heart of the Teide volcano (Tenerife), you need to request a special permit. It is issued free of charge. You just need to make an application on the website national parks Spain, and then print the answer. When visiting the crater, you must also have either your original passport or a photocopy of your photo. At the beginning of the trail there is a ranger who checks the presence of all these documents. It's not a long walk, but the air at the top is thin, and it can be very difficult for beginners. Therefore, try to walk slowly, stop and take a breath. It is always cool at the top, and tourists are advised to take warm clothes with them. And in winter, the mercury can drop to minus five Celsius.

Caldera

This is one of the most interesting places Mount Teide (Tenerife), although not so well known to tourists. But fans of science fiction films will recognize him immediately. It's about about the caldera, that is, the “cauldron” of the volcano. We have already said that Teide is like a two-story building. It is located inside an older crater. This is called a caldera. It is mainly preserved in the south of the volcano. Its area is about 16 kilometers. It surrounds the Teide peak, presenting an absolutely fantastic landscape. These are entire frozen lava flows, rocks with bizarre shapes. In a word, those who walk here get the impression that they have found themselves either in a prehistoric era, or on another planet. Many science fiction films and blockbusters were actually filmed here - from One Million Years BC in the sixties of the last century to Clash of the Titans. You can walk around the caldera anywhere - there are no snakes or dangerous animals there. It is especially beautiful here in spring, when the lifeless lava is covered with bright flowers. Tourists also like to come to the caldera in August. Then the Earth passes through the meteorite belt and the “starfall” begins. The Spaniards romantically call this phenomenon “the tears of Saint Lorenzo.” It is especially beautiful to contemplate it on the caldera.

Excursions

From the heights of the Teide volcano you can see almost all of the Canary Islands. On top station The cable car makes for stunning photos, especially in clear weather, without clouds. But it’s not just the cable car that keeps travelers alive. Trips to the national park and caldera are organized and walking routes. The so-called Lunar Landscape at the foot of the volcano is especially popular among tourists. There are several viewpoints here, as well as the beautiful rocks of Roque de Garcia. Excursions to the Teide volcano require compliance with several strict rules required for visitors to national parks. Here you are not only prohibited from lighting fires and picking flowers, but also from collecting and taking stones with you. Do not be surprised! For many decades, tourists have been grabbing pieces of volcanic rock. So soon there will be nothing left of the mountain if everything is left to chance. And for those thirsty for barbecue with a panoramic view, there are special barbecue areas without reaching the park where you can organize picnics. By the way, the slopes of the volcano are overgrown with the only pine tree in the world, the wood of which does not burn. Not far from the rocks of Roque de Garcia is the Parador Hotel with good restaurant.

Volcano Teide: reviews

Tourists who have visited Tenerife write that it is better not to go to the top right away, but first to acclimatize on the island and get acquainted with the surroundings. Teide should be saved for later. Moreover, many advise studying the volcano in two stages. First, it is better to take a walk around the caldera, examine the fantastic rocks, lava rivers and phoenix pines. And then begin the ascent by cable car. Of course, don’t forget warm clothes, find out the weather forecast in advance and purchase tickets online. It is better to buy them a month in advance. You can only take the funicular to the top and walk back down. There are different trails there - both for trekking and simple ones. But all your efforts will be rewarded. After all, you will not see such unique, Martian beauty anywhere else. There will be clouds under you, and the whole world will be at your feet.

Volcano Teide is the main attraction of the Canary Islands. The island of Tenerife, where this one is located natural object, is a “volcanic nesting doll”. The first volcano erupted at the bottom of the ocean, the second had already burst out of the water and formed an island, and Teide completed this process, “raising” the top of Tenerife to 3718 meters above sea level. The volcano became the highest point not only in Spain, but throughout Atlantic Ocean.

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Teide - active volcano, last active in 1909. Its history is rich in eruptions. Unlike many famous fire-breathing mountains, Teide's eruptions were not tragic for people. In 1706, the volcano completely destroyed the large port city of Garachico, but there were no casualties. It's all about the composition of Teide's lava, it is very thick and moves very slowly. This “delicate” nature of the mountain makes it a safe destination for tourists.

History of Teide

The sky doesn't fall to earth just because Mount Echeyde (that’s what the aborigines called the mountain) supports him. This is what the Guanche tribes, local residents of the Canary Islands, believed. They treated the formidable fiery mountain with trepidation, bringing sacrifices to the god Achaman, the creator of the world, to the top. The aborigines explained the restless, fiery character of the mountain by dramatic events of antiquity with the participation of the gods.

The insidious and treacherous spirit of Guayota kidnapped the sun god Mahek and imprisoned him in grief.

Darkness covered the Canaries, there was no way to resist the predatory attacks on livestock and catch the destroyers. It was Guayota and his henchmen Tibisenas who were having fun under the cover of eternal night.

People prayed and asked for help from the creator of the world, Achaman. The terrible god overtook Guayota and forced him to release Mahek, instructing the latter to punish the violator of the world order. The sun god imprisoned the evil spirit in the depths of Mount Echeide and plugged the top with a huge plug. To this day, this traffic jam can be seen on the top of the mountain (in winter, there is snow in the Canaries only on the top of Teide - it is decorated with a snow cap).

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Sometimes Guayota tries to break free from captivity, then the earth shakes and flames erupt from Mount Echeyde (the breath of an evil spirit), but the shackles are strong and nothing threatens the people anymore.

Teide for tourists

Around the volcano today there is Teide national park, where most vacationers in Tenerife want to go.

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Excursion or independent travel

You can get to the park either independently or as part of an excursion offered at all tourist offices on the island. The excursion will cost 60 euros(individual - 150 euros), in this case there are no problems with transport (provided by the travel agency), but there are also disadvantages to this tour:

tourists most often have the opportunity to admire the volcano only from afar (the company does not book tickets for the funicular);
such an opportunity is more expensive than independent visit volcano

You can visit the volcano on your own. Walks from the southern part of the island regular bus No. 342 from Las Americas bus station. It will take you to the starting station of the funicular for 12 euros (round trip), travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes). There are also buses from the north of the island, but the ticket already costs from 20 euros, and the journey takes more than 2.5 hours.

Take the cable car or walk?

By cable car (27 euros round trip ticket, travel time about 10 minutes) you will rise to a height of 3500 meters.

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There are several interesting possibilities here:

Walk along two walking trails to observation platforms.
Walk a few hundred meters to the crater itself. This requires a permit, which can be ordered on the website reservasparquesnacionales.es. The procedure is free.

Despite the fact that the height of the mountain is not so high, the air here is quite thin. After leaving the cable car People with heart disease or asthma may experience difficulties. Before climbing Teide, consult your doctor; it may be that traveling to the top of the volcano is not for you.

Tourists climb to the very top of Teide not only and not so much to explore the crater, the main thing here is the view of the Canary Islands. Photos taken at the top of Tenerife's main volcano in clear weather will be the most spectacular in your travel album.

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If you are in good physical shape, you can climb to the top of Teide on foot. The climb is difficult and will take several hours. It is important to calculate your strength.

If your health does not allow you to climb to the top, then at the foot of the mountain in the park there are quite attractive places:

Roques de Garcia- bizarre rocks, the main one of which, the “finger of God,” looks like a pillar with a narrow base and expanding upward.
Lunar landscape- a walking trail among frozen blocks of volcanic tuff.

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The fantastic, unrealistic and original nature of the local nature made this place attractive to filmmakers. Don’t be surprised if you see with your own eyes corners that appeared in famous blockbusters.
It is very easy to navigate the national park and the surrounding area of Teide - there are signs everywhere that also tell you the distance to each of the attractions.

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The park is open all year round, But The lift operates sporadically in the winter months. It's all because of the strong wind. If you are traveling in winter, check if the funicular is running before heading to Teide. The receptionist at the reception desk of any hotel will help you with this.

The lift operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but The last bus leaves from Teide to Las Americas at 15:40. Keep this in mind if you plan to get to the top of the volcano.

Teide is visited by several million tourists every year. There are always queues in front of the funicular, especially closer to lunch time. To avoid long standing in queues, you can buy a ticket for the funicular on the Internet.

Except public transport and organized tourist bus, Teide can be reached by taxi from Las Americas (60 euros one way). The price is comparable to per day. But it is better to get behind the wheel only for experienced drivers, with good experience driving - mountain roads Tenerife - not the easiest and safest.

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If you are planning to conquer the peak and look into the crater, take with you:

Warm clothes (the temperature may be very different from that at the foot).
A supply of food (cookies, biscuits, chips, water, etc.) - the appetite will be simply brutal, and nearby restaurants set prices taking this into account (expensive and not always tasty).
Sunglasses and sunscreen - the sun in the mountains is treacherous, even if it doesn’t warm you up, you can get very tanned.
Gloves and sports shoes - mountains are not a promenade on the seashore, sometimes you have to climb (for the sake of a spectacular shot, for example).
After purchasing a ticket for the funicular, you will be photographed, as provided by the rules, be prepared for this. It is not necessary to take the photo (it costs 5 euros), but it will be issued as a certificate for conquering Teide (a nice souvenir).

Teide and the national park around it are considered the main attractions of the island, but that’s not all that the Canaries have to offer. , read the detailed article.

The most popular sight on the island of Tenerife is the huge dormant volcano Teide and the opportunity to climb it. This is also the highest point in all of Spain - 3718 meters.
It is impossible to remain cold to its beauty: from an airplane, Teide looks like a snowy, humpbacked giant, sleeping in a tiny cradle of a caldera, wrapped in the waves of the ocean. One of the names given to the volcano by the Guanches is Snowy Mountain, or Eide, and it has come down to us as Teide.

Getting to this beauty is not so easy, but the journey is worth it. Standing next to the crater of a volcano that erupted just a hundred years ago, you feel an involuntary thrill.
Teide used to be even higher - about 5000 m, but violent eruption in the 18th century it destroyed its top, forming a beautiful caldera around it.
It is convenient to get here from any corner of Tenerife. May with tourist excursion, but it’s better to take it and go to the National Park yourself, admiring the unprecedented beauty.

By the way, Las Cañadas del Teye, where the volcano is located, deserves special attention. Your Instagram will love the impressive landscapes =).

By the way, one of the legends of the ancient aborigines - the Guanches - says that the devil is imprisoned in the crater of the Teide volcano.

Drive to the top!

How to get to the top? You can do it yourself by car. Along the roads it is easy to get straight to the foot of the volcano, where the lift cabin starts from. The editors of Hiking Tenerife magazine like to access Teide from Arafo, via Esperanza. And the most touristic one is through Guia de Isora from, and. Amazing beauties will accompany you all the way. Mountain serpentines will appeal to experienced drivers and will tickle the nerves of passengers. We recommend stopping at those you like.

For lazy tourists, you can buy it anywhere on the island or take a bus with a large group.

Teleferico del Teide funicular

Having reached national park, immediately get in line for the funicular. Please note that during the season there is a very long queue to get into the cabin to climb the Teide volcano. Peak of tourist activity - New Year holidays, Easter, May holidays and the summer months, especially July, August and September.
From May to November, the funicular operates daily from 9 am to 4 pm. The cable car cabin is designed for 38 people, but in strong winds it is not fully loaded. It is better to buy tickets in advance on the website.

In 10 minutes of ascent by cable car to the crater of the Teide volcano, the soul manages to go to the heels and return back. The view from the windows is mesmerizing: the enormous height and clear sky. The peak, small and distant, is rapidly approaching.

So, we are at the highest point in Spain - Mount Teide. Now you can take trail number 11 and head towards La Fortaleza to admire the views. And along path 10 you can go straight to the crater. By the way, to climb to the crater itself you need to get permission. This needs to be done ahead of time, best of all - via the Internet: on the website reservasparquesnacionales.es, enter your data and the desired lifting date. The permission will be sent by email.

Finally, a couple of recommendations from the magazine’s editors: don’t forget sunglasses and warm clothes, it’s quite cool at an altitude of 3718 meters. Apply cream with SPF 50!
Take your time and don’t run, as the air is thin and dry, it will be hard on your body.
Do not leave valuables in the car. There are groups of thieves working at the observation decks on the road to the Teide volcano.

For connoisseurs of power points, there is an epic treat: hiking Mount Teide at dawn with an overnight stay in a mountain hut called “rifugio”.

Remember, the climb to the top of Teide is walking route- a serious test, as the air at the top is thin!

Be sure to visit the highest point in Spain and the Canary Islands.

Basic moments

The Teide volcano is part of the national park of the same name (Parque Nacional del Teide), listed World Heritage UNESCO. In addition to the famous peak, you can also see smaller volcanoes here, which were formed as a result of lava escaping through side craters. They have separate names and are also part of the tourist route.

Fragments of rocks and streams of solidified lava, an almost complete absence of vegetation, clouds of hydrogen sulfide escaping from cracks in the ground... No, these are not the scenery for a new science fiction film, but real landscapes of the slopes of one of the most famous active volcanoes Canary Islands - Teide.

The park's lunar landscape is formed by volcanic tuff, a porous rock ejected from the Teide volcano during an eruption. The wind and rain polish it, creating “sculptures” of bizarre and sometimes fantastic shapes. These same architects create rocks whose names speak for themselves: “Finger of God”, “Queen’s Shoe”.

Legend of the Demon Guayota

The natives of Tenerife, the Guanches, had their own version of the appearance of the Teide volcano, which in their language was called Echeide (“hell” or “devil”). So, according to legend, an evil spirit, the demon Guayota, lives in the mountain. He was always a nuisance local residents, but one day he surpassed himself: he stole the Sun from the sky and hid it in the depths of the crater. People would have had a very bad time if not for the creator god Achman. He freed the luminary, and imprisoned Guayot himself inside the mountain. But the evil spirit has not completely conquered - from time to time it reminds itself of itself with streams of burning lava and clouds of ash.

Dozes but doesn't sleep

Currently, the volcano, which has a layered structure, is dormant: the last activity was recorded in 1909. However, Teide was not always so passive and safe. For example, in 1706, during an eruption, an entire settlement disappeared from the face of the earth (although the residents managed to evacuate). To prevent such tragedies from happening again, a group of seismologists is constantly monitoring the condition of the volcano, so you can safely pack your backpack and set off to conquer the fiery mountain.

Teide peak rises inside the caldera, a cauldron formed after the collapse of the Las Cañadas volcano. Its diameter is about 16 kilometers, and if you look at the island from the air, you can clearly see that Teide is two-tiered, even though the walls of the caldera have collapsed on the northern side.

Climbing the volcano

The first stage is a trip to the lower lift station. It is too unforgettable journey: Depending on the altitude and weather, the landscape is constantly changing. There is a winding road that can be reached by car or bus: number 342 from the stations in Las Americas and number 348 Puerto de la Cruz (departure at 9:15, return at 15:40). Those who decide to independent travel, must first clarify the routes and choose the most suitable one. Entry to the park is free and open 24 hours a day. Detailed maps and all the necessary information can be obtained free of charge at tourist centers, flight routes are presented on the website http://www.titsa.com.

Buses and cars will take tourists to an altitude of 2356 m. Further road to observation deck Teide is possible in three ways:

by cable car;
on foot;
by helicopter.

The ascent time in the first case will be only 8 minutes, in the second - several hours, depending on physical fitness and the availability of equipment. The funicular operates from November to May from 9:00 to 16:00 (descent until 17:00). An adult two-way ticket costs 27 euros, a child ticket costs 13.50 euros (3-13 years old). Travel for children is free. To avoid standing in line, you can pre-book your seats on the website https://www.telefericoteide.com/ru/volcano_life_experience/podemnik_na_teyide/. Near the ticket office you can pick up a brochure in Russian.

From the top observation deck there are beautiful views of the peak and the park, and in good weather you can see neighboring islands. From here there are several routes: to the viewpoint of La Forales (No. 11) and to Pico Viejo (No. 12), as well as No. 3 (Telesforo Bravo Trail) to the reservoir of the Teide volcano. It is important to remember that tourists are only allowed in groups. If time permits, it is better to take one of the first trails first, as this will give you the opportunity to get used to the altitude.

Above the mountains... only Teide peak

Tenerife authorities fear corrosion of the rock, so they limit access to the top: no more than 200 people per day are allowed. To look into the crater of the volcano, you need to have a special permit. To do this, tourists fill out a form on the website www.reservasparquesnacionales.es, indicating the date, time of visit, their contact information, passport series and number, and the number of people in the group. The permit must be printed to be shown at the entrance along with your passport. The entire procedure lasts no more than five minutes and is absolutely free.

The climb to the top will not take much time - the peak is separated from the observation deck by only 163 meters. However, there is no need to rush; on the contrary, experienced climbers advise making frequent stops and taking a breath so that you don’t get dizzy in the thin air. This time can be used to take spectacular photos.

Night under the stars

The first rays of the sun paint the earth with colors, the shadow of the volcano reaches the very coast, gradually receding before the onslaught of light - this is exactly the sight that can be seen when meeting the sunrise on the peak of Teide. This can be done if you spend the night at the Altavista tourist base, located on the slope of Teide at an altitude of 3260 meters. This pleasure costs 25 euros, and visitors will no longer need a permit to climb. To be in time for sunrise, you need to leave at 6:00.

Another reason to stay overnight at the base is meteor shower. IN last days In July and early August, the night sky is illuminated by hundreds of shooting stars.

Memo to summit conquerors

The Teide volcano is part of the national park of the same name. Among other things, this also means that it is protected by law. On its territory it is prohibited:

to light a fire without permission;
pick plants;
collect stones.

The last point is not a joke, but a rather serious instruction. Tourists in pursuit of souvenirs can pose a real danger to the park. After all, if each tourist takes away a pebble, within a few decades the main attraction of Tenerife will simply not exist.

Due to pressure drop in many unprepared tourists Mountain sickness may begin. You can improve the situation somewhat if you make frequent stops while climbing. It is better for young children and people with cardiovascular diseases to avoid such a trip.
Go with hiking trail forbidden. A “lost” tourist will be forced to pay a fairly large fine.
When preparing to climb, it is important not to forget to take warm clothes. When temperatures change (depending on the time of day, the difference can be up to 20°C), a jacket and trousers will be indispensable. Also, at altitude, a hat and sunscreen will not be superfluous.
Parking spaces at the base of the volcano are limited. If vacationers decide to get to the funicular by car, it is advisable to leave early.
Due to strong winds or snowfalls, the funicular may not operate. Therefore, before leaving, it is worth checking this at the station. This can be done by calling +34 922 010 445.
The optimal time to ride the funicular is immediately after opening or after lunch, then you won’t have to stand in long queues.

The active Teide volcano is located in the very center of the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary group, which belongs to Spain (its coordinates are 28°16′15″ N and 16°38′21″ W). The island of Tenerife, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, geographically belongs to the African continent (only 300 km), but the Spanish coast is much further away - 1200 km.

An excursion to the “dormant” Teide volcano is an unusual, exciting adventure that will reveal, at least a little, the mystery of the origin of our planet.

The emergence of the island of Tenerife and the Teide volcano

The island is of volcanic origin. Formation of Tenerife, the 3rd largest city in the world volcanic islands, about 8 million years passed.

Initially, most of The island was formed as a result of the eruption of 3 volcanoes: Teno, Anaga and Adeje. Volcanic shields were formed for more than 3 million years, and then, after a long period of dormancy (2 million years), a new one became active in the center of the triangle formed by dormant volcanoes. powerful volcano Las Cañadas.

Presumably, the central volcano had a diameter of more than 40 km, and its height was about 4.5 km. The eruption of Las Cañadas united three, towering above the ocean, mountain range. The island rose upward, gradually taking on the shape it has today.

About 150 thousand years ago, a series of powerful eruptions destroyed the Las Cañadas volcano - its peak collapsed under its own weight, resulting in the formation of a giant crater at an altitude of 2-2.5 km above sea level. This huge depression measuring 16x9 km is called a caldera (from the word “cauldron”). Subsequent seismic activity led to the emergence of a new peak in the northern part of the Las Cañadas caldera - Teide volcano and its “daughter” volcano Pico Viejo.

Las Teresitas beach on the island of Tenerife

Volcano Teide is a stratovolcano with the shape of a regular cone. Its height above sea level is 3718 m and almost 7.5 km, if measured from the ocean floor.

Satellite photographs clearly show that Teide is a “two-story volcano”, a kind of volcano within a volcano.

Eruptions of Teide

The first documented eruption of Teide dates back to 1492: sailing past Tenerife, Christopher Columbus observed fire and lava flows in the Orotava Valley from the deck of his ship. But if geophysicists question the fact that it was the Teide volcano that erupted at the end of the 14th century, then the powerful eruption of 1706 caused considerable damage not only to the inhabitants of the island, but also to the volcano itself.

Volcano Teide

As a result of the activity of the Teide volcano, the rich city of Garachico was completely destroyed, its sea port, nearby fishing villages, the bay became unsuitable for ships to approach (it has changed so much coastline). And if the residents of Tenerife, who left the city in time, were not harmed, then Teide significantly lost its height. The consequence of the volcanic eruption was the destruction of its peak. Before this event, the height of the volcano was about 5000 m.

The eruption of Teide in 1705 and then in 1798 was less destructive. The last time the Teide volcano became active was in 1909, and now it is “sleeping”, although, more accurately, “sleeping with half an eye” (seismologists recorded slight activity of the volcano in 2003), and its crater erupts only sulfur fumes.

Peak Teide is not only the highest point in Tenerife, Spain, but also in the entire Atlantic Ocean. The snow-capped peak of the volcano proudly rises above the island and is visible from any corner of it. Translated from the language of the Guanches, the aborigines who inhabited the island, “teide” means “snowy mountain”. There is always snow at the top, it is cool there even in summer, and in winter, due to the piercing winds, it seems especially cold, although the air temperature does not drop below -5°C.

The Las Cañadas caldera surrounding the volcano is famous for its fantastic natural landscape, which was created over hundreds of millennia by erupting lava flows. This entire unique territory with “lunar landscapes”, bizarre rocks, frozen lava rivers - Las Cañadas del Teide (Parque Nacional del Teide) has the status state reserve and attracts tourists from all over the world who dream of climbing to the top and looking into the smoking crater of Teide.

The frozen lava around it has at least three distinct colors: black, white and red.

Travelers come to the island of Tenerife to relax at any time of the year - there are almost always good weather: moderate heat in summer, about 20°C in winter, no rainy seasons or hurricanes. But due to the complex terrain, the weather on the coast and in the Las Cañadas caldera area can vary significantly.

One of the most successful periods for excursions to National Park Teide is April-June. At this time, the desert caldera blooms with a riot of colors, comes to life and smells fragrant. Here you can see rare plants that grow only in Tenerife. The bright crimson two-meter flower Wildprete's bruise is one of the decorations of the mountain slopes.

Visit to Teide volcano

An exciting excursion with a thoughtful, varied route that will help tourists see unique corner planets - the island of Tenerife and its symbol - the Teide volcano.

Before traveling to the volcano, you must visit the website of the National Administration. park to obtain permission to climb to the Teide crater. The permit is issued free of charge (instructions for registration can be found on the website).

A pre-booked excursion frees tourists from all organizational issues (access to Teide, climbing to the top, permission to climb to the top), and they only enjoy the trip, as well as the stories and legends of Tenerife that the guide tells.

The excursion begins with an exciting trip along a mountain serpentine to the foot of the volcano (height 2356 m), where the lower cable car station is located. There is an excellent driving route leading to this place; along the way there are special sites so that you can stop and admire the amazing views, take interesting pictures of the bizarre rocks of Roques de Garcia and “Martian” landscapes. You can get to the funicular station on your own by bus number 342 from the town of Las Americas.

Path to the top

From the foot of the volcano and almost to the very top you can climb in a cable car. The climb to the La Rambleta observation deck, which is located at an altitude of 3555 m, will take only 8 minutes, and it will be an indescribable mini-excursion.

At the funicular station there is always a large queue of people wanting to get to the top, so it is much more convenient to climb the volcano as part of a group for which the travel time is clearly defined.

Sometimes the operation of the cable car can be affected by weather. In winter, at such a height in the mountains, due to strong winds, the lift may not work. The weather is a capricious thing, and therefore you definitely need to find out whether the climb is open (whether the planned excursion to the volcano will take place).

At the top station of the funicular it is always much colder, the air is thinner. Therefore, these factors must be taken into account, especially for tourists with health problems.

The observation deck offers stunning views of the entire island, the Canary archipelago, mountain slopes with solidified lava, and the peaks of the small subsidiary volcanoes of Teide.

163 meters is the difference in height between the top of the volcano and the station

The distance to the very top of Teide from the observation deck is 163 meters. Along a specially laid path, about 600 m long, you can climb to see the crater of the volcano; along other numbered paths you can get to highest point Pico Viejo, La Fortaleza viewpoint. But this part of the route is closed to free passage. To continue your journey, you must obtain a climbing permit in advance.

After checking documents (permit and passport) at the checkpoint, tourists can climb. The ascent along a fairly steep path will take 30-35 minutes. The crater has a slightly ominous appearance, but this only adds to the experience. You can't go down into the crater, but the dizzying panorama that opens from the highest point in Spain (especially if the weather is favorable) justifies all the difficulties of the climb.

Amazing night excursion on Teide in August - the season of meteor showers (the Spaniards call this spectacle the tears of St. Lorenzo) will be remembered for a long time. The beauty of the caldera at sunset, the fantastic outlines of the rocks, the sky hanging overhead and sparkling with the strokes of falling stars - everything you see will take your breath away!

An excursion to the island of Tenerife to one of the wonders of the Earth will be a bright, unforgettable event in the life of those who love to discover new and unknown things.