View source for La Palma

{{Short description|Canary Island}}
{{About|one of the Canary Islands|other similar names|Palma (disambiguation)|and|Las Palmas (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|La isla bonita|the Madonna song| La Isla Bonita}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = La Palma
| image_name       = (Isla de la Palma) La Palma & La Gomera Islands, Canary Islands (cropped).jpg
| image_caption    = Satellite view of La Palma
| image_size       =
| map_image        = File:Spain Canary Islands location map La Palma.svg
| map_caption      = Location of La Palma within the Canary Islands
| pushpin_map          = Africa
| pushpin_map_caption  = Location of La Palma relative to Africa
| native_name      =
| native_name_link =
| nickname         =
| location         = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| country_capital  = [[Santa Cruz de La Palma]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|28|40|N|17|52|W|}}
| archipelago      = [[Canary Islands]]
| total_islands    =
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         = 708.32
|area_footnotes   = <ref name="istac_territorio">{{cite web |url=http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/jaxi-istac/menu.do?uripub=urn:uuid:fbc0bdc8-cacb-43b8-a5cb-a93f745dcff6 |title=Estadística del Territorio |publisher=Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC) |access-date=14 August 2019 |language=es |trans-title=Territory Statistics }}</ref>
|coastline_km     = 166
|coastline_footnotes = <ref name="istac_territorio" />
| highest_mount    = [[Roque de los Muchachos]]
| elevation_m      = 2,426
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name="istac_territorio" />
| country          = {{flag|Spain}}
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Autonomous Community]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Canary Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]]
| country_largest_city              = [[Los Llanos de Aridane]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 20,375 (2023)
|demonym = {{lang|es|palmero/a}}
| population       = 84,338
|population_footnotes = <ref>Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Madrid, 2023.</ref><ref name=boepop>{{cite web |url= https://www.statista.com/statistics/449366/population-of-the-canary-islands-by-island/|title= This statistic displays the population of the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands* in January 2020, by island.|language=English |date=October 2020 |website=[[Statista.com]]|access-date=17 June 2020 }}</ref>
| population_as_of = start of 2023
| density_km2      = 119.1
|languages        = [[Spanish language|Spanish]], specifically [[Canarian Spanish]]
|ethnic_groups    = [[Spaniards|Spanish]], [[Canary Islanders]], other minority groups
|timezone1        = [[Western European Time|WET]]
|utc_offset1      = ±00:00
|timezone1_DST    = [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]
|utc_offset1_DST  = +01:00
| additional_info  =
}}
'''La Palma''' ({{IPA|es|la ˈpalma|lang|Pronunciation of La Palma in Spanish.ogg}}, {{IPA-all|lɐ ˈpɑ(l)mɐ|local}}), also known as ''La isla bonita'' ({{Langx|en|The Beautiful Island}}) and historically '''San Miguel de La Palma''', is the most northwesterly island of the [[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], which is a Spanish [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] and [[archipelago]] in [[Macaronesia]] in the North [[Atlantic Ocean]].  La Palma has an area of {{convert|708.32|sqkm|sqmi}} making it the fifth largest of the eight main Canary Islands. The total population at the start of 2023 was 84,338,<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Madrid, 2023.</ref><ref name=boepop /> of which 15,522 lived in the capital, [[Santa Cruz de La Palma]] and 20,375 in [[Los Llanos de Aridane, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Los Llanos de Aridane]]. Its highest mountain is the [[Roque de los Muchachos]], at {{convert|2426|m|ft}}, being second among the peaks of the Canaries after the [[Teide]] massif on [[Tenerife]].
In 1815, the German geologist [[Leopold von Buch]] visited the Canary Islands. It was as a result of his visit to Tenerife, where he visited the Las Cañadas caldera, and then later to La Palma, where he visited the Taburiente caldera, that the Spanish word for [[cauldron]] or large cooking pot – "[[caldera]]" – was introduced into the geological vocabulary. In the center of the island is the [[Caldera de Taburiente National Park]], one of four national parks in the Canary Islands.
==Etymology==
The full name of the island is "San Miguel de La Palma" ("Saint Michael of La Palma"), usually abbreviated simply to "La Palma". La Palma is nicknamed "La Isla Bonita" ("beautiful island").<ref name="HughesMurphy2010">{{cite book|author1=Holly Hughes|author2=Sylvie Murphy|author3=Alexis Lipsitz Flippin|author4=Julie Duchaine|title=Frommer's 500 Extraordinary Islands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajhU1AAacUsC&pg=PA91|date=2 February 2010|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-50070-5|page=91}}</ref>
==Origins and geology==
La Palma, like the other islands of the Canary Islands archipelago, is a volcanic ocean island. The volcano rises almost {{convert|7|km|0|abbr=on}} above the floor of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Geology of the Canary Islands - 1st Edition|url=https://www.elsevier.com/books/the-geology-of-the-canary-islands/troll/978-0-12-809663-5|access-date=2020-10-22|website=www.elsevier.com}}</ref> There is road access from sea level to the summit at {{convert|2426|m|0|abbr=on}},<ref name="ISTAC">[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas.html ISTAC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114080725/http://www2.gobiernodecanarias.org/istac/estadisticas.html |date=14 November 2010 }} "Instituto Canario de Estadistica" (In Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2009</ref> which is marked by an outcrop of rocks called Roque de Los Muchachos ("Rock of the Young Men"). This is the site of the [[Roque de los Muchachos Observatory]], one of the world's premier astronomical observatories.<ref name="iac.es">{{cite web|url=https://www.iac.es/es/observatorios-de-canarias/observatorio-del-roque-de-los-muchachos|title=Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos|access-date=December 13, 2022}}</ref>
La Palma's geography is a result of the [[Volcano|volcanic]] formation of the island. The highest peaks reach over {{convert|2400|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, and the base of the island is located almost {{convert|4000|m|0|abbr=on}} below sea level. The northern part of La Palma is dominated by the [[Caldera de Taburiente]], with a width of {{convert|9|km|0|abbr=on}} and a depth of {{convert|1500|m|0|abbr=on}}. It is surrounded by a ring of mountains ranging from {{convert|1600|m|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|2400|m|0|abbr=on}} in height. On its northern side is the exposed remains of the original [[seamount]]. Only the deep Barranco de las Angustias ("Ravine of Anxiety") ravine leads into the inner area of the caldera, which is a national park. It can be reached only by hiking. The outer slopes are cut by numerous gorges which run from {{convert|2000|m|0|abbr=on}} down to the sea. Today, only a few of these carry water due to the many [[Water tunnel (physical infrastructure)|water tunnels]] that have been cut into the island's structure.
From the Caldera de Taburiente to the south runs the ridge Cumbre Nueva ('New Ridge', which despite its name is older than the [[Cumbre Vieja]], 'Old Ridge.') The southern part of La Palma consists of the Cumbre Vieja, a volcanic ridge formed by numerous volcanic cones built of [[lava]] and [[scoria]]. The Cumbre Vieja ridge is active, last erupting in the [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption|2021 La Palma eruption]], which destroyed more than 2600 buildings and caused one death. Beyond Punta de Fuencaliente at the southern tip of the island, the Cumbre Vieja continues in a southerly direction as a [[submarine volcano]].
==Volcanism and eruptions==
[[File:La Palma in Canary Islands - ISS satellite image ISS006-E-29660 - cropped.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of La Palma, with the ''Caldera de Taburiente '' visible (north is to the lower right)]]
[[File:San Antonio volcano D81 6894 (32531733561).jpg|thumb|Crater of San Antonio volcano (last erupted 1677)]]
[[File:Caldera de Taburiente La Palma.jpg|thumb|A view of the island looking south]]
[[File:Llano del Jable - Pico Birigoyo - La Palma 01.jpg|thumb|Pico Birigoyo is the northernmost of the high volcanic peaks along the [[Cumbre Vieja]]]]
[[File:Looking down into the Caldera de Taburiente (5492836562).jpg|thumb|Walls of [[Caldera de Taburiente]]]]
Like all of the Canary Islands, La Palma originally formed as a [[seamount]] through [[Submarine volcano|submarine volcanic]] activity. Along with Tenerife, La Palma is the most volcanically active of the Canary Islands. Its base lies almost {{convert|4000|m|0|abbr=on}} below sea level and reaches a height of {{convert|2426|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{Cite book|date=2021-01-01|chapter=North-East Atlantic Islands: Ts|last1=Troll|first1=Valentin R.|title=Encyclopedia of Geology|doi=10.1016/b978-0-08-102908-4.00027-8|isbn=9780081029091|s2cid=226588940}}</ref> About a half a million years ago, the Taburiente volcano collapsed with a giant [[volcanic landslide|landslide]], forming the [[Caldera de Taburiente National Park|Caldera de Taburiente]]. Erosion has since exposed part of the old seamount in the northern part of the caldera. Since the Spanish have kept records, there have been eight eruptions – all of which have occurred on the [[Cumbre Vieja]] volcanic ridge:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carracedo |first1=Juan C. |last2=Troll |first2=Valentin R. |last3=Day |first3=James M. D. |last4=Geiger |first4=Harri |last5=Aulinas |first5=Meritxell |last6=Soler |first6=Vicente |last7=Deegan |first7=Frances M. |last8=Perez-Torrado |first8=Francisco J. |last9=Gisbert |first9=Guillem |last10=Gazel |first10=Esteban |last11=Rodriguez-Gonzalez |first11=Alejandro |last12=Albert |first12=Helena |date=May 2022 |title=The 2021 eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge on La Palma, Canary Islands |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gto.12388 |journal=Geology Today |language=en |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=94–107 |doi=10.1111/gto.12388 |bibcode=2022GeolT..38...94C |s2cid=246950800 |issn=0266-6979}}</ref>
* 1470–1492 Montaña Quemada
* 1585 Tajuya
* 1646 Volcán Martín
* 1677 Volcán San Antonio
* 1712 El Charco
* 1949 Volcán San Juan: Duraznero, Hoyo Negro and Llano del Banco vents
* 1971 Volcán [[Teneguía]]
* [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption]]
At Cumbre Vieja ridge [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption|a new monogenetic volcano burst]] on 19 September 2021 after several seismic crises that rocked the island, among other anomalies regarding volcanic surveillance.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-19|title=Lava shoots up from volcano on La Palma in Spanish Canary Islands|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/people-evacuated-spanish-island-la-palma-after-volcano-eruption-warning-2021-09-19/|access-date=2021-09-19|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref> At 85 days, it is the longest known and the most damaging volcanic eruption on La Palma since records began.<ref name="AP2"/><ref name="EP2"/><ref>{{cite news|title=The new volcano is the most damaging among the historical eruptions on La Palma|url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/new-volcano-most-damaging|work=Canarian Weekly|date=20 October 2021}}</ref> The total damage caused by the volcano amounts up to 843 million [[euro]]s.<ref name="Europa Press">{{cite news|title=Canarias remite al Gobierno una evaluación de daños del volcán de La Palma por 842,33 millones|url=https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-canarias-remite-gobierno-evaluacion-danos-volcan-palma-84233-millones-20211204160648.html|work=[[Europa Press (news agency)|Europa Press]]|date=4 December 2021|language=es}}</ref>
The Special Commissioner for the Reconstruction of the island of La Palma, created in 2022 to coordinate and promote the actions adopted by the [[General State Administration]] to repair the damage caused by [[2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption|volcanic eruptions]] and for the reconstruction of the island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Decreto 426/2022, de 7 de junio, por el que se modifican el Real Decreto 139/2020, de 28 de enero, por el que se establece la estructura orgánica básica de los departamentos ministeriales, y el Real Decreto 373/2020, de 18 de febrero, por el que se desarrolla la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de la Presidencia, Relaciones con las Cortes y Memoria Democrática. |url=https://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2022-9376 |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=boe.es| pages=77920–77924 }}</ref> [[Hector Izquierdo Triana]], born in La Palma and [[secretary of state]] for finance at that time, was appointed to this responsibility.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-08-06 |date=2022-06-06 |first=El País |language=es |last=Agencias |title=El Gobierno crea un comisionado para reconstruir la isla de La Palma de los efectos de la erupción del volcán |url=https://elpais.com/economia/2022-06-06/el-gobierno-crea-un-comisionado-para-reconstruir-la-isla-de-la-palma-de-los-efectos-de-la-erupcion-del-volcan.html |website=El País}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-08-06 |date=2022-06-07 |first=Efe, A. |language=es |last=R |title=Un “ministro” velará por la recuperación de La Palma, aún con muchas necesidades |url=https://www.lne.es/sociedad/2022/06/07/ministro-velara-recuperacion-palma-necesidades-66986476.html |website=La Nueva España}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
==Tsunami scenarios==
{{Main|Cumbre Vieja tsunami hazard}}
{{Further|Cumbre Vieja#Potential megatsunami}}
{{Undue weight section|date=September 2021}}
In an episode of the [[BBC]] ''[[Horizon (British TV series)|Horizon]]'' series broadcast on 12 October 2000, two geologists hypothesised that during a future eruption, the western flank of [[Cumbre Vieja]], with a mass of approximately 1.5 x10<sup>15</sup> kg, could slide into the ocean. This could then generate a giant wave, known as a "[[megatsunami]]" around {{cvt|650-900|m|}} high. The wave could radiate out across the Atlantic and inundate much of the eastern seaboard of North America, and many of the islands in the [[Caribbean]] and northern coasts of South America between six and eight hours later. They estimate that such a tsunami could have waves possibly {{convert|50|m|0|abbr=on}} or higher causing massive devastation along the coastlines. Modelling suggests that the tsunami could inundate up to {{convert|25|km|0|abbr=on}} inland.<ref name=Day>Day, S. J; Carracedo, J. C; Guillou, H. & Gravestock, P; 1999. Recent structural evolution of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands: volcanic rift zone re-configuration as a precursor to flank instability. J. Volcanol. Geotherm Res. 94, 135–167.,</ref><ref name=Ward>Ward, S. N. & Day, S. J; 2001. Cumbre Vieja Volcano; potential collapse and tsunami at La Palma, Canary Islands. Geophys. Res. Lett. 28-17, 3397–3400. http://www.es.ucsc.edu/~ward/papers/La_Palma_grl.pdf</ref> The claim was also explored in a BBC docu-drama called ''[[End Day]]'' which went through several hypothetical scenarios of disastrous proportions. However, nowhere in their papers do the authors make any claim about the imminent collapse of the flank. Rather, they state that they have modelled the worst-case scenario.
In 2002 the Tsunami Society published a statement stating "... We would like to halt the scaremongering from these unfounded reports..." The major points raised in this report include:
*The claim that half of Cumbre Vieja dropped {{convert|4|m|0|abbr=on}} during the 1949 eruption is erroneous, and contradicted by physical evidence.
*No evidence was sought or shown that there is a fault line dividing the island of La Palma.
*Physical evidence shows a {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} long line in the rock, but the models assumed a {{convert|25|km|0|abbr=on}} line, for which no physical evidence was given. Further, there is no evidence shown that the {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} long line extends to beneath the surface.
*There has never been a megatsunami in the Atlantic Ocean in recorded history.<ref>Pararas-Carayannis, G; 2002. Evaluation of the Threat of Mega Tsunami Generation from Postulated Massive Slope Failures of Island Stratovolcanoes on La Palma, Canary Islands, and on The Island of Hawaii, Science of Tsunami Hazards, Vol 20, No.5, pp 251–277.</ref>
A geological survey published in 1999 concluded that the western flank is stable with no evidence of [[aseismic creep]].<ref>Moss, J.L., McGuire, W.J., Page, D., 1999. Ground deformation monitoring of a potential landslide at La Palma, Canary Islands. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 94, 251–265.</ref> Other experts agree that the [[Fracture (geology)|fracture]] resulting from the 1949 eruption is a shallow and inactive surface expression that should be monitored, but consider the possibility that it is unstable as being almost nonexistent.<ref>Carracedo, J. C; Badiola, E. R; Guillou, H; de la Nuez, J; and Pérez Torrado, F. J; 2001. Geology and Volcanology of La Palma and El Hierro, Western Canaries. Estudios Geol. 57, (5–6) 175–273.</ref> Also, it is likely that the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge|morphology of the floor of the Atlantic Ocean]] would hinder the propagation of a transoceanic tsunami.<ref>Murty, T. S; Nirupama, N; Nistor, I; and Rao, A. D. 2005. Why the Atlantic Generally cannot generate trans-oceanic tsunamis? ISET J. of Earthquake Tech. Tech. Note., 42, No. 4, pp 227–236.</ref> In 2006 Jan Nieuwenhuis of [[Delft University of Technology]] simulated several volcanic eruptions and calculated it would take another 10,000 years for the flanks to become sufficiently high and unstable to cause a massive collapse.<ref>[http://www.physorg.com/news77977989.html New research puts 'killer La Palma tsunami' at distant future], [[PhysOrg.com]], 20 September 2006.</ref>
A 2008 paper looked into the worst-case scenario of a massive landslide and subsequent megatsunami. The authors concluded that waves could reach heights in the range 10 to 188 meters in the Canary Islands, but that the waves would dissipate as they radiated out into the Atlantic Ocean. They predict 40 meters height for some nearby island systems. For continents, the worst effects would be expected in Northern Brazil (13.6 m), French Guiana (12.7 m), mid-US (9.6 m), Western Sahara (largest prediction at 37 meters) and Mauritania (9.7 m). While still large, this would not qualify as a megatsunami (apart from locally in [[Macaronesia]]), with the highest prediction for Western Sahara comparable to the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Japanese tsunami]].<ref>Løvholt, F., G. Pedersen, and G. Gisler. "Oceanic propagation of a potential tsunami from the La Palma Island." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 113.C9 (2008).</ref>
==Climate==
La Palma can be characterized by two main climate types: The Mediterranean climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] '': Csb/Csa''), characterized by dry summers and humid winters, is prevalent in the northern coast and in the mid to high altitudes of the island. At lower altitudes, particularly at the south and southwest coasts, the climate becomes [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] '': BSh'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Atlas Climático de los archipiélagos de Canarias, Madeira y Azores |url=https://www.ipma.pt/export/sites/ipma/bin/docs/publicacoes/atlas.clima.ilhas.iberico.2011.pdf |publisher=[[AEMET]] |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref> Average temperatures at the coast vary from {{convert|18|C}} in January and February to {{convert|24|C}} in August and September.  For a Canary island, the weather is quite cloudy, as La Palma is far more exposed to marine air systems than easterly islands, caused by the [[Canary Current]]. As altitude increases moving inland, the climate becomes cooler and more humid, which provides conditions for [[laurisilva]] [[cloud forests]] to occur, such as the one in the Natural Park of Bosque de los Tiles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bosque de Los Tiles. Canarias Wiki.|url=https://www3.gobiernodecanarias.org/medusa/wiki/index.php?title=Bosque_de_Los_Tiles|access-date=2021-12-22|publisher=Gobierno de Canarias (Canary Islands Government)|language=es}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location = [[La Palma Airport]] 33m (1981–2010)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 27.0
| Feb record high C = 31.0
| Mar record high C = 32.8
| Apr record high C = 36.6
| May record high C = 32.4
| Jun record high C = 29.4
| Jul record high C = 38.4
| Aug record high C = 38.0
| Sep record high C = 36.8
| Oct record high C = 34.4
| Nov record high C = 31.6
| Dec record high C = 28.1
| Jan high C = 20.6
| Feb high C = 20.7
| Mar high C = 21.2
| Apr high C = 21.6
| May high C = 22.6
| Jun high C = 24.1
| Jul high C = 25.5
| Aug high C = 26.3
| Sep high C = 26.6
| Oct high C = 25.5
| Nov high C = 23.5
| Dec high C = 21.8
| Jan mean C = 18.1
| Feb mean C = 18.0
| Mar mean C = 18.5
| Apr mean C = 18.9
| May mean C = 20.0
| Jun mean C = 21.7
| Jul mean C = 23.1
| Aug mean C = 23.9
| Sep mean C = 24.0
| Oct mean C = 22.8
| Nov mean C = 20.9
| Dec mean C = 19.3
| Jan low C = 15.5
| Feb low C = 15.3
| Mar low C = 15.7
| Apr low C = 16.2
| May low C = 17.4
| Jun low C = 19.2
| Jul low C = 20.7
| Aug low C = 21.4
| Sep low C = 21.3
| Oct low C = 20.2
| Nov low C = 18.3
| Dec low C = 16.7
| Jan record low C = 9.4
| Feb record low C = 10.9
| Mar record low C = 10.2
| Apr record low C = 10.0
| May record low C = 11.0
| Jun record low C = 15.2
| Jul record low C = 14.9
| Aug record low C = 16.7
| Sep record low C = 16.4
| Oct record low C = 15.3
| Nov record low C = 10.0
| Dec record low C = 10.0
| year record low C = 9.4
| Jan rain mm = 49
| Feb rain mm = 57
| Mar rain mm = 33
| Apr rain mm = 19
| May rain mm = 7
| Jun rain mm = 2
| Jul rain mm = 1
| Aug rain mm = 1
| Sep rain mm = 12
| Oct rain mm = 41
| Nov rain mm = 70
| Dec rain mm = 80
| Jan rain days = 5
| Feb rain days = 4
| Mar rain days = 4
| Apr rain days = 3
| May rain days = 1
| Jun rain days = 0
| Jul rain days = 0
| Aug rain days = 0
| Sep rain days = 2
| Oct rain days = 5
| Nov rain days = 7
| Dec rain days = 8
| year rain days = 40
| Jan sun = 141
| Feb sun = 146
| Mar sun = 177
| Apr sun = 174
| May sun = 192
| Jun sun = 188
| Jul sun = 222
| Aug sun = 209
| Sep sun = 187
| Oct sun = 175
| Nov sun = 140
| Dec sun = 138
| year sun = 2106
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=C139E&k=coo
|title=Valores climatológicos normales. La Palma Aeropuerto
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=coo&l=C139E&datos=det|title=Valores Extremos - La Palma Aeropuerto}}</ref>
| source =
}}
==Government==
The island is part of the [[province (Spain)|province]] of [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]].
[[File:RK 1403 0034 Los Volcanes de Aridane.jpg|thumb|[[Los Llanos de Aridane]]]]
The island is divided into 14 municipalities:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Name
! rowspan="2" | Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
! colspan="3" | Census Population
! rowspan="2" | Estimated<br>Population<br />(2023)<ref>Estimate of 1 January 2023: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
|-
! 2001<ref>Census of 1 November 2001: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
! 2011<ref>Census of 1 November 2011: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
! 2021<ref>Census of 1 January 2021: from Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid.</ref>
|-
|[[Barlovento, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|Barlovento]]
| align="right" |43.55
| align="right" |2,382
| align="right" |2,067
| align="right" |1,966
| align="right" |1,992
|-
|[[Breña Alta]]
| align="right" |30.82
| align="right" |5,715
| align="right" |7,173
| align="right" |7,223
| align="right" |7,315
|-
|[[Breña Baja]]
| align="right" |14.20
| align="right" |3,621
| align="right" |5,323
| align="right" |5,871
| align="right" |5,966
|-
|[[Fuencaliente de la Palma]]
| align="right" |56.42
| align="right" |1,833
| align="right" |1,841
| align="right" |1,747
| align="right" |1,849
|-
|[[Garafía]]
| align="right" |103.00
| align="right" |1,795
| align="right" |1,566
| align="right" |1,844
| align="right" |1,949
|-
|[[Los Llanos de Aridane]]
| align="right" |35.79
| align="right" |17,720
| align="right" |20,493
| align="right" |20,773
| align="right" |20,375
|-
|[[El Paso, Santa Cruz de Tenerife|El Paso]]
| align="right" |135.92
| align="right" |6,764
| align="right" |7,665
| align="right" |7,713
| align="right" |7,972
|-
|[[Puntagorda]]
| align="right" |31.10
| align="right" |1,675
| align="right" |1,730
| align="right" |2,311
| align="right" |2,380
|-
|[[Puntallana]]
| align="right" |35.12
| align="right" |2,337
| align="right" |2,407
| align="right" |2,552
| align="right" |2,612
|-
|[[San Andrés y Sauces]]
| align="right" |42.75
| align="right" |5,351
| align="right" |4,578
| align="right" |4,311
| align="right" |4,301
|-
|[[Santa Cruz de la Palma]]
| align="right" |43.38
| align="right" |17,265
| align="right" |16,568
| align="right" |15,546
| align="right" |15,522
|-
|[[Tazacorte]]
| align="right" |11.37
| align="right" |5,062
| align="right" |4,777
| align="right" |4,510
| align="right" |4,535
|-
|[[Tijarafe]]
| align="right" |53.76
| align="right" |2,730
| align="right" |2,675
| align="right" |2,548
| align="right" |2,632
|-
|[[Villa de Mazo]]
| align="right" |71.17
| align="right" |4,550
| align="right" |4,826
| align="right" |4,897
| align="right" |4,938
|- style="background-color:#F6F6F6; font-weight:bold;"
|Totals
| align="right" |708.36
| align="right" |78,800
| align="right" |83,689
| align="right" |83,812
| align="right" |84,338
|}
La Palma has a "[[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]]" relationship with [[El Dorado Hills, California]].
==Economy==
[[File:Strand in Puerto Naos Los Llanos de Aridane La Palma-4.jpg|thumb|[[Black sand]] beach in Puerto Naos]]
[[File:View from Lovers Leap (5494740604).jpg|thumb|left|Terraced fields in La Palma]]
The local economy is primarily based on agriculture and tourism. Bananas are grown throughout the island with many banana farms on the western side of the island in Los Llanos de Aridane. Other crops include [[Strelitzia|bird of paradise]] flowers, oranges, avocados and grapes. Local ranchers raise cattle, sheep and goats. Fishermen operating from Santa Cruz de La Palma, Tazacorte, and Puerto Naos catch fish for the local markets.
==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Forest Los Tilos.jpg|thumb|[[Laurisilva]] [[cloud forest]] in La Palma]]
[[File:La Palma - Villa de Mazo - Lugar Playa La Salemera-Lomo Oscuro - Euphorbia canariensis + Montaña del Azufre 01 ies.jpg|thumb|''[[Euphorbia canariensis]]'' is a [[succulent]] endemic to the Canary Islands]]
La Palma has abundant plant life, including several endemic species.
Although large areas have been [[deforestation|deforested]], the upland areas of La Palma retain much of the evergreen [[laurel forest]], where species of [[Lauraceae]], such as ''[[Laurus azorica]]'', ''[[Persea indica]]'', and ''[[Ocotea foetens]]'' are a characteristic component. This is a [[Relict (biology)|relictual population]] of the [[Pliocene]] subtropical forests which used to cover the island.
The [[Pinus canariensis|Canary Island pine]] is found on all of the western Canary Islands, but it is particularly abundant on La Palma. The pine forests are also home to two recently discovered and extremely rare La Palma endemics: ''[[Lotus eremiticus]]'' and ''[[Lotus pyranthus|L. pyranthus]]''.
''[[Cytisus supranubius]]'', a white-flowered [[Genisteae|broom]] known locally as Retama del Teide, is native to La Palma and Tenerife, being restricted to the alpine/subalpine habitats present only in these two islands. Like Tenerife, La Palma also has its own alpine violet, ''Viola palmensis''.
''[[Echium pininana]]'' is endemic to La Palma and the tallest species in the genus, reaching over 4 m. It is related to ''[[Echium wildpretii]]'' which occurs, with separate subspecies, in the subalpine zone of both Tenerife and La Palma. Both species are [[monocarpic]], producing a massive terminal [[inflorescence]]. ''Echium webbii'', a branched shrub with several smaller, dark blue flower spikes, is another island endemic with close relatives on Tenerife.
Other La Palma endemics include members of the [[Asteraceae|daisy family]], such as ''[[Sonchus palmensis]]'', ''[[Argyranthemum]] haouarytheum'' ''[[Pericallis]] papyracea'' and ''[[Cheirolophus]] sventenii''.
Several animals are native or endemic to La Palma, including the:
* [[La Palma giant lizard]], believed extinct until rediscovered in 2007
* Western Canaries lizard (''[[Gallotia galloti]]'' subspecies ''palmae'')
* [[Graja]] (''Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax barbarus''), subspecies of the [[red-billed chough]]
* [[Canary Islands chiffchaff]] (''Phylloscopus canariensis'')
* [[La Palma chaffinch]] (''Fringilla coelebs palmae'')
* [[Western Canary Islands goldcrest]] (''Regulus regulus ellenthalerae'')
* [[Garafian Sheepdog Breed]] (''Canis familiaris'')
* [[Canary Islands quail]] (''Coturnix gomerae''), now extinct.
* [[Trias greenfinch]] (''Chloris triasi''), now extinct.
In addition, many other animals have been introduced, including rabbits and [[Barbary sheep]], or aoudads, which have become a serious threat to endemic flora
A [[List of biosphere reserves in Spain|biosphere reserve]] was established in 1983, and extended and renamed in 1997 and 2002.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/eu-na/la-palma | title=La Palma Biosphere Reserve, Spain | date=25 January 2019 }}</ref>
== Natural symbols ==
{{Main|List of animal and plant symbols of the Canary Islands}}
The official natural symbols associated with La Palma are the [[red-billed chough]] (''graja'') and ''[[Pinus canariensis]]'' (Canary Island pine).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html |title=Ley 7/1991, de 30 de abril, de símbolos de la naturaleza para las Islas Canarias |access-date=29 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808141931/http://www.gobcan.es/boc/1991/061/001.html |archive-date=8 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="160px">
File:Alpenkrähe-Pyrrhocorax.jpg|[[Red-billed chough]]
File:Pinus canariensis (Garafía) 07 ies.jpg|''[[Pinus canariensis]]''
</gallery>
==History==
At the time of European colonization, the Canary Islands were inhabited by native Canarians, referred to collectively as [[Guanches]], although the natives of La Palma are more correctly known as ''Auaritas'' (See [[Canary Islands in pre-colonial times]]). The origin of these natives is unclear but they are believed to share common ancestry with the [[Berber people|Berbers]] of North Africa. The Guanches had a Neolithic culture divided into several clans led by chiefs. Their name for La Palma was [[Benahoare]]. The main remnants of this culture are their cave dwellings, enigmatic [[petroglyph]]s and paved stone paths through the mountains. After the Spanish occupation of La Palma, the native Canarians vanished by either being killed, sold into slavery or by assimilating into the Spanish population.
It is believed that the [[Canary Islands]] were known to the [[Phoenicians]] and [[Greeks]], but the earliest written evidence is by the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] writer [[Pliny The Elder]], who quoted [[Juba II]] of [[Numidia]], but Juba's writings were subsequently lost. The [[Genoa|Genoese]] navigator [[Lancelotto Malocello]] reached the archipelago in 1312 and remained for two decades until expelled by a native uprising. In 1404 the Spaniards began the conquest of the islands. Though the first landing on La Palma was in 1405, it took until 1493 and several bloody battles until the last resistance of the natives was broken. The conqueror of La Palma was [[Alonso Fernández de Lugo]], who defeated [[Tanausu]], the last king on the island.  He ruled the area known as Acero (Caldera de Taburiente). Tanausu was ambushed after agreeing to a truce arranged by Fernández de Lugo and Juan de Palma, a Guanche who had converted to [[Christianity]] and who was a relative of Tanausu.
For the next two centuries, settlements on La Palma became rich as the island served as a trading post on the way to the [[New World]]. La Palma received immigrants from [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]], [[Majorca]], [[Andalusia]], [[Portugal]] and [[Catalonia]].
==Religion==
[[File:Church La Palma.jpg|thumb|Iglesia Nuestra Señora de La Luz]]
The island is predominately Roman Catholic and since 1676, has been known for the festival of [[Fiestas Lustrales de la Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves]] (the bringing down of the [[Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major|Virgin of the Snow]], ''Virgen de las Nieves''), which has a rich history, from the time of the Bishop of the Canaries, Bartolomé García Ximénez. The festival features the dancing of "enanos" or midgets. The costumes that people wear have a hole at the top of the hat to allow them to see out, while giving the appearance of dancing midgets. People come from all over the world for the celebration which happens every five years. The image of the Virgin is taken down from her sanctuary (located in a hilly area on the outskirts of [[Santa Cruz de La Palma]]) and paraded around the city of Santa Cruz with the festival lasting nearly two weeks before she is returned. The last time this event was performed in 2015 and the next will be in 2025, as in 2020 had to be cancelled due to the global pandemic of COVID-19.
The Virgin of the Snow is the patron saint of La Palma. Many women on the island have the name "Nieves" in her honor. Every 5 August the annual festival of the Virgin is celebrated.
==Transport==
[[File:La Palma - Santa Cruz de La Palma + Port (LP-3 in Breña Alta) 03 ies.jpg|thumb|[[Santa Cruz de La Palma]] has the only major port in the island]]
La Palma has a road network of some {{convert|1200|km|0|abbr=on}}. All the main roads are asphalted and in a good state, although there are many sharp bends, some very narrow. In order to reach some small hamlets in the north of the island it is necessary to travel on unpaved roads. A good paved road approximately  {{convert|180|km|0|abbr=on}}, circumscribes the island. Several bus routes exist that unite the main settlements on the island.
A road crosses the island from [[Tazacorte]] on the west coast to [[Santa Cruz de La Palma|the capital city]] on the east coast of the island. This road is a two-lane highway that includes a pair of two-lane tunnels. The older tunnel is shorter ({{convert|1100|m|0|abbr=on}}) and higher than the newer tunnel ({{convert|2880|m|0|abbr=on}}). When traveling from one side of the mountain to the other it is common to enter one side in complete clouds (the east side) and come out to the sunny side (western side). This is due to the clouds not being able to cross the mountains, an effect caused by the counter trade wind.
[[La Palma Airport]] is served mainly by [[Binter Canarias]] and [[CanaryFly]], and [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]], with flights to and from [[Tenerife]] and [[Gran Canaria]], and also to and from mainland Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands.
There is also ferry service between the city of Santa Cruz de La Palma and the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
==Water tunnels==
The ''minas galerias'' (water tunnels) carry water from sources in the highlands to towns, villages and farms. La Palma receives almost all of its water from the ''mar de nubes'' ([[sea of clouds]]) of the northeast [[trade winds]]. The water condenses on the vegetation, from where it runs into the ground. Eventually it collects inside the rock strata, and is then drained via the galerias into aqueducts and pipes for distribution. The galerias have been cut into the rocks over centuries. It is possible to walk alongside many of the aqueducts, a popular activity for tourists (similar to the ''[[Levada (Madeira)|levada]]s'' of [[Madeira]]). The tour to the Marcos y Corderos waterfall and springs is also popular.
There is an extensive network of irrigation canals in the valley of ''Los Llanos de Aridane''. These canals carry water from the mountains throughout the valley and allow for the cultivation of bananas, avocados, flowers, and other plants.
== Observatories ==
{{Main|Roque de los Muchachos Observatory}}
[[File:Sea of clouds around La Palma.jpg|thumb|A sea of clouds below the [[William Herschel Telescope]]]]
Due to the location of the island and the height of its mountains, some {{convert|2400|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, a number of international astronomical [[observatory|observatories]] have been built on the [[Roque de los Muchachos]]. The particular geographical position and climate cause [[cloud]]s to form between {{convert|1000|m|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|2000|m|0|abbr=on}}, usually leaving the observatories with a clear sky. Often, the view from the top of the volcano is a sea of clouds covering the eastern part of the island.<ref name="iac.es"/> Telescopes at the observatory include:
* The [[Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes]] (ING) operates three telescopes: the {{convert|4.2|m|0|abbr=on}} [[William Herschel Telescope]], the {{convert|2.5|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Isaac Newton Telescope]] and the {{convert|1|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope]].
* The {{convert|2.5|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Nordic Optical Telescope]] (NOT).
* The {{convert|1|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Swedish Solar Telescope|Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope]] (SST) operated by the [[Institute for Solar Physics]].
* The {{convert|0.45|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Dutch Open Telescope]] (DOT), also a solar telescope.
* A {{convert|0.6|m|0|abbr=on}} optical telescope.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
* The [[Carlsberg Meridian Telescope]] (CMT).
* The {{convert|1.2|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Mercator Telescope]].
* The {{convert|2|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Liverpool Telescope]].
* The {{convert|10.4|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Gran Telescopio Canarias]] (Great Canary Telescope, dedicated 24 July 2009).
* The {{convert|3.6|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Telescopio Nazionale Galileo]] (TNG).
* The {{convert|17|m|0|abbr=on}} [[MAGIC (Telescope)|MAGIC Telescope]], an air shower [[Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique|Cherenkov telescope]] for observing high energy [[gamma rays]]
* The [[SuperWASP]]-North telescope, used to detect extrasolar planets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iac.es/es/divulgacion/noticias/superwasp-detectara-miles-de-planetas-extrasolares|title=SuperWASP detectará miles de planetas extrasolares|access-date=December 13, 2022|date=April 16, 2004}}</ref>
* The northern node of the [[GOTO (telescope array)|Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer]] (GOTO).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-21 |title=Neutron stars: New telescope detects dead suns colliding |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61911047 |access-date=2024-03-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In addition, the [[Cherenkov Telescope Array]] is planned for construction starting in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.cta-observatory.org/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Cherenkov Telescope Array|language=en-US}}</ref>
In December 2021 the Roque de Los Muchachos Visitor Centre was inaugurated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RTVC |date=2021-12-19 |title=El Centro de Visitantes del Roque de Los Muchachos abre sus puertas |url=https://rtvc.es/el-centro-de-visitantes-del-roque-de-los-muchachos-abre-sus-puertas/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Radio Televisión Canaria |language=es}}</ref>
==See also==
{{portal|Spain|Islands}}
* [[Geology of the Canary Islands]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Spain]]
{{Clear}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|La Palma}}
{{wikivoyage|La Palma}}
* [https://visitlapalma.es/en/ Official Tourism Website] {{in lang|es|en|de|zh|nl|it|fr}}
* [http://www.cabildodelapalma.es Official La Palma Website] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/ The official website of the Canary Islands]
* [https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149231/a-changed-landscape-on-la-palma Comparison images before and after the 2021 eruptions] at [[NASA Earth Observatory]]
* [http://www.starsislandlapalma.es Stargazing site on La Palma] {{in lang|es|en|de}}
* [http://www.senderosdelapalma.es Hiking Network of La Palma official website] {{in lang|es|en|fr|de}}
* [https://lapalmacentrosturisticos.com/centros/parque-arqueologico-el-tendal/ El Tendal archaeological park] {{in lang|es|en|de}}
* {{cite gvp|name=La Palma|vn=383010|access-date=2021-06-26}}
{{La Palma}}
{{Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palma, La}}
[[Category:La Palma| ]]
[[Category:Active volcanoes]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Spain]]
[[Category:Islands of the Canary Islands]]
[[Category:Pleistocene volcanism]]
[[Category:Pliocene volcanism]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of the Canary Islands]]