LIVING ON A VOLCANIC LAND/ MY DAYS IN FUERTEVENTURA # 2

© Photos by ROBERTO ALBORGHETTI

In Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) the Jandia peninsula was formed through one of three volcanic edifices that created the Island: the stratovolcano of Jandia.

Its emissions were very powerful and caused a widespread pilling up of lava flows that made up the most important terrains of the Island. The erosive agents are still re-modeling this terrain. The southern slope which starts at the Jandia mountain ridge is formed by a grouping of narrow, short and deep valleys that do not quite reach the sea.

In Fuerteventura, water makes and marks the different colours of landscapes. On an island where so rarely we have rains, water desalination plants ensure life, to inhabitants and to flora and vegetation. Other differences are made by the sea. Various local species are endemic to the Jandia peninsula meaning it is the region with most biodiversity in the entire island.

The area close to the lighthouse is inhabited by grouping of halophillic plants (extremophile organisms adapted to living in environments with high concentration of salt), such heath-leaved Sea-Heath and an antidiabetic medical plant (Plantigophyllum gaetulum) whose habitat is limited within the Canary Islands.

The Mosquito Valley has a good representation of other endemic species found only in the south of Fuerteventura and a plant symbol of the island, Jandia spurge (Euphorbia handiensis). A perennial shrub Launaea arborescens, Common Ice Plant, Canary Island tamarisks (Tamarix canariensis), Poenix canariensis palm tree and the tree tobacco (also uncorrectly known as Mustard tree, Nicoriana glauca) all introduced to the island and can also be encountered along our routes.