Chinijo Archipelago


The Chinijo Archipelago is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands. The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island. The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's reduced dimensions. The Chinijo Archipelago forms part of the national park Parque natural del Archipiélago established in 1986, and is part of a large marine reserve.

History

The Chinijo Archipelago is primarily of volcanic origin, with its islets formed approximately 10 million years ago by the activity of a corona volcano in northern Lanzarote. French explorer Jean [de Béthencourt], who explored Lanzarote in the early 1400s, traversed the waters leading to La Graciosa in the Chinijo Archipelago. The archipelago was declared as part of the Natural Park of Parque natural del Archipiélago in 1986. It forms part of one of the largest marine reserves in Europe. The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's smaller dimensions.

Geography

Chinijo is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands. The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island. La Graciosa has a historical livelihood rooted in fishing, with small boats traditionally bringing fresh catches to shore.
The natural park covers a total area, also includes part of the rocky north coast of the island Lanzarote. The area of the natural park overlaps with that of a separately designated marine reserve. The European Union designated a Special Protection Area for birds in 1994.

Topography

The Chinijo Archipelago consists of predominantly volcanic highlands characterized by numerous volcanic cones and craters. Montaña Clara in the islands the largest volcanic crater in the archipelago. The topography consists of white sandy beaches interspersed with black volcanic rocks along the oast. Risco de Famara is a large cliff on the northern coast of Lanzarote, which offers an overall view of the archipelago.
VolcanoCommune /
Locality		DescriptionAltitudePhotograph
Montaña Amarilla,La Graciosa
Volcanic cone172 m
Montaña BermejaLa GraciosaVolcanic cone157 m
Montaña LobosClose to coast of Alegranza Volcanic cone221 m
Montaña del MojonCoast of La Graciosa Volcanic cone188 m-
Montaña de Pedre BarbaLa Graciosa
Volcanic cone266 m
Montaña ClaraMontaña Clara Volcanic cone256 m
Roque del OesteTeguise, Chinijo
Volcanic cone41 m
Roque del EsteTeguise, Chinijo
Volcanic cone84 m