Timanfaya National Park - Montañas Del Fuego
Manrique is credited with having discerned the optimum route through the park. He also designed the restaurant which sits on top of the Islote de Hilario, where the car park and coach pick up point are. The restaurant El Diablo offers marvellous panoramic views - which are particularly impressive at sunset.
Countless comparisons to a lunar landscape have already been made. But in reality the raw landscapes of Timanfaya allow visitors to imagine what the earth might have looked like when it was first formed.
The grandiose, multicoloured volcanic landscape enclosing the Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) stretches around 20 square miles (51 square kilometres) – just north of Yaiza to Masdache and westwards, where it covers a considerable part of the northwest coast. It is undoubtedly the highlight of Lanzarote’s landscapes, though almost completely devoid of any bird, animal or plant life.
History tells us of the dramatic volcanic eruptions in this area. During six years in the 18th Century, more than thirty volcanoes violently exploded, spilling fire, smoke and huge masses of magma onto the surrounding landscape, burying entire villages. Fortunately, people had already deserted their homes in time so that despite this natural catastrophe, there were no casualties. These eruptions transformed almost a quarter of the island into a sea of solidified lava, multicoloured volcanic rocks and copper-coloured sand, with wide areas covered with thick layers of lapilli (coarse ash). These materials formed the malpaís (badlands), and more than 250 years after these eruptions, there is still hardly any vegetation here. For the time being, the area is quite safe, though underneath the surface it is still bubbling and an odour of sulphur hangs in the air.
Jameos del Agua
Jameos Del Agua, located in the north of Lanzarote, is part of the Atlantida volcanic cave system formed by the eruptions of the Corona volcano about three to four thousand years ago. This larger cave system also includes Cueva de los Verdes.
The word 'Jameo' refers to a volcanic cave with a collapsed roof, of which there are many in this part of Lanzarote.
The Lanzarote-born artist César Manrique has helped to create this spectacle, where these natural 'jameos' have been turned into an Auditorium, Swimming pool, Gardens and Restaurants, while still blending into the surrounding volcanic landscape. Jameos del Agua was the first of the local government's Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism and first opened its doors to the public in 1966, though the centre has seen near-continuous additions and refurbishments since that time.
The recently re-opened natural Auditorium has seating for 600 and is renowned for its excellent acoustics. The premier of the Pedro Almodóvar film, Los Abrazos rotos, starring Penelope Cruz was held there in March 2009.
The underground salt water Lagoon, Jameo Chico, is host to a Species of Blind Albino Crab (Munidopsis Polimorpha) that is found nowhere else.
Opening Hours:
Everyday from 9.30 - 19.00
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 19.00 - 02.00
