Las Islas Canarias

The Canary Islands are situated in the Atlantic Ocean, on the West Coast of the African Sahara Desert. They are

located less than 100 Km away from Africa and more than 1000 Km away from Spain.

Las Islas Canarias

Las Islas Canarias

Las Islas Canarias

La Gomera is the youngest Gran Canaria is the most populated

La Palma is the greenest

El Hierro is the smallest Tenerife is the highest

Lanzarote is the flattest

Fuerteventura is the longest

Las Islas Canarias

Tenerife

Lanzarote

La Palma

Fuerteventura

Gran Canaria

La Gomera

El Hierro

Las Islas Canarias

The origins of the history of the Canary Islands are intertwined with myths and legends and several different

theories exist.

Research into the islands’ earliest population points to a link with North Africa and a Berber cultural heritage. It would

seem that the islands were colonised around 500 B.C. Natives from the Islands were called ‘Guanches’.

Las Islas Canarias

The name Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) can possibly derive from the Latin term ‘Insularia Canaria’, meaning Islands of the Dogs. It is believed that the Islands were populated with wild dogs, and a special breed is still the symbol of Gran Canaria:

‘presa Canario’, originally bred for working livestock.

Las Islas Canarias

When Europeans began to explore the islands, they found indigenous populations living at a relatively Neolithic level of

technology, and despite the close distances between the islands, sea navigation didn’t exist.

The islands were known to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans and are mentioned in many classical sources. They

have been visited for the most important voyages of exploration and science, and they were known as the

‘Fortunate Isles’.

Las Islas Canarias

However, the Spanish conquest of the islands started in 1402, and although the people from the islands resisted for almost a century, the conquest was not completed till 1495, around

the same time as when America was discovered.

Las Islas Canarias

Autobús Bus Guagua

Spanish word Meaning Canary word

Patata Potato Papa

Casa House Choso

Idiota Idiot Machango

Fiesta Party Tenderete

How many main islands are there?

A. Nueve.

B. Siete.

C. Cinco.

Question 1:

Which island is the highest?

A. Tenerife.

B. Gran Canaria.

C. Lanzarote.

Question 2:

How many islands have volcanoes?

A. None of them.

B. Five of them.

C. All of them.

Question 3:

What name did the natives receive?

A. Spanish.

B. African.

C.Guanches.

Question 4:

Why were they called Canary Islands?

A. After the birds ‘canaries’.

B. After wild dogs.

C. After the African natives Berbers.

Question 5:

What other name are the islands known by?

A. Dog Islands.

B. Seven Stars.

C. Fortunate Islands.

Question 6:

What year was the conquest completed by the Spanish?

A. 1945.

B. 1495.

C. 1402.

Question 7:

What word is used in the islands to say ‘bus’?

A. Bús.

B. Wagon.

C. Guagua.

Question 8:

What word is used in the islands to say ‘fiesta’?

A. Guanches.

B. Machango.

C. Tenderete.

Question 9:

What word is used in the islands to say ‘house’?

A. Casa.

B. Choso.

C. Chalet.

Question 10:

Las respuestas

How many main islands are there?

A. Nueve.

B. Siete.

C. Cinco.

Question 1:

B. Siete.

Which island is the highest?

A. Tenerife.

B. Gran Canaria.

C. Lanzarote.

Question 2:

A. Tenerife.

How many islands have volcanoes?

A. None of them.

B. Five of them.

C. All of them.

Question 3:

C. All of them.

What name did the natives receive?

A. Spanish.

B. African.

C.Guanches.

Question 4:

C. Guanches.

Why were they called Canary Islands?

A. After the birds ‘canaries’.

B. After wild dogs.

C. After the African natives Berbers.

Question 5:

B. After wild dogs.

What other name are the islands known by?

A. Dog Islands.

B. Seven Stars.

C. Fortunate Isles.

Question 6:

C. Fortunate Isles.

What year was the conquest completed by the Spanish?

A. 1945.

B. 1495.

C. 1402.

Question 7:

B. 1495.

What word is used in the islands to say ‘bus’?

A. Bús.

B. Wagon.

C. Guagua.

Question 8:

C. Guagua.

What word is used in the islands to say ‘fiesta’?

A. Guanches.

B. Machango.

C. Tenderete.

Question 9:

C. Tenderete.

What word is used in the islands to say ‘house’?

A. Casa.

B. Choso.

C. Chalet.

Question 10:

B. Choso.