Garajonay National Park

Garajonay National Park

Garajonay National Park is located in the center of La Gomera Island in the Canary Islands. Seventy percent of its area is covered by laurel forest. During the Tertiary period, springs and countless streams nourished lush vegetation. Today, due to climate change, many of these springs and streams have disappeared from southern Europe, and the former beauty is no longer present. In 1986, Garajonay National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The protected area covered by Garajonay National Park spans approximately 4,000 hectares, accounting for 10% of the entire island. The park also includes the central plateau and the upper ends of several gorges. Rolling green forests cover nearly 70% of the region. The abundant average annual rainfall allows the island’s vegetation to thrive. Prevailing trade winds from the ocean bring substantial moisture to the central plateau, making this protected land an outstanding freshwater reservoir. Amidst the harmonious and beautiful scenery, the park occasionally appears unusually rugged due to exposed rock veins. These peculiar landforms were formed by ancient lava flows, which have since solidified. Along the southeastern border of the protected area, four closely spaced volcanic craters stand out as particularly striking features.

Garajonay National Park is situated on La Gomera Island in Spain’s Canary Islands, covering an area of 40 square kilometers and occupying the island’s highest central region. It includes the 1,484-meter-high Garajonay Peak and smaller sections of the park at elevations between 790 and 1,400 meters. Torrents and waterfalls cascade down the northern slopes of the mountains, flowing through gorges into the sea. The island has an oceanic climate with minimal temperature variation throughout the year but high humidity, thick fog, and abundant rainfall—all of which are highly favorable for the growth of evergreen broadleaf forests. Beneath the broadleaf canopy grow vines, ferns, mosses, and lichens, with laurel being the most predominant. The most precious are the Tertiary-period laurel trees, which have become extinct elsewhere. The park has few animal species, mainly comprising a small number of birds. The Laurel Pigeon and the Bolle’s Pigeon are two unique wild pigeon species found only in Garajonay National Park, inhabiting the laurel forests.

La Gomera Island was the last island Christopher Columbus left before embarking on his voyage. Today, it has become a true site of historical significance. Initially, the national park was established to protect the extensive laurel forests in the region. It is estimated that such historically valuable laurel forests are extremely rare worldwide, and Garajonay National Park preserves and safeguards this laurel wonder, boasting the foremost number of laurel trees.