Hierro Island: the jewel in the rough of the Canary Islands
Soaking in the beautiful and tiny island of El Hierro is something that can take many forms. You may dive into the crystal waters of its coast, full of tropical fauna and marine life in abundance, but also do its incredible landscapes and seascapes, its ancient forests, lunar landscapes of volcanoes and lava and wealth of their crafts, folklore and traditions. With the look of an old giant lizard, a true island living symbol of the recovery phase, we see spend quiet days visiting the beautiful and rugged coastline infested pools, enjoying the delicious dishes and products of the land and sea overwhelmed or contemplating the twisted junipers who bow down before the stake of the ancient winds?
All this beauty experts gather in a place like no other: El Hierro. The smallest and southwest of the Canary Islands is renowned as a paradise of snorkeling and scuba diving, being together all the years of underwater photography competitions in the world famous: the Open Fotosub. But hikers, nature of the interior or the most scenic sites also have their private paradise in El Hierro. Not surprisingly, the island was declared fully Biosphere Reserve in 2000, and today, sixty percent of its surface is protected. And no wonder: from the beauty of the prehistoric temperate evergreen juniper, through natural monuments such as beaches or Orchilla Lighthouse (the end of the known world, where over a thousand years passed the meridian ) the most beautiful landscapes and ancient legends arise everywhere in every corner of the Iron.
Despite all its miles of coastline, perhaps fewer travelers find in El Hierro are sandy beaches. But who needs them? The natural pools, there are sometimes called Puddles?, Come to greet fans marine toilets in many parts of the coast, sometimes accompanied by water spouts (cracks through which the sea rises, as if it were a geyser ) and steep cliffs. The traditional ways of life remain in many places, as if time had decided to stop in El Hierro, their inhabitants preserve the ancient arts of fishing, crafts and folklore as the cultural treasures they are.
An inside temperature of 15 ° on average in winter, and about 25 degrees (sometimes many more) in summer, adding another attraction to an island brimming with them. The waters of Iron also maintain an average of between 18 and 20 degrees throughout the year, which has led to the presence of fauna typical of tropical waters on their shores. The declaration of marine reserves in the area of La Restinga helps preserve a unique ecosystem in the world, not considering the missing divers Iron the best place on earth for scuba diving.
