ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, 21st of April 2011

In order to understand environmental issues of a particular space (Canary Islands) we decided to split up the topic in 4 branches of physical geography. The hierarchy plays an important role. On the first place we put the geology and tectonics, as the islands have a volcanic origin. As a result of volcanic rock on one hand and the climatic factors on the other, which are mainly dominated by NE-Trade-Winds, a unique landscape (geomorphology) evolved. The 3 main types of landforms are volcanic lava flows with recent basaltic eruptions, landslides and cliffs. As a consequence of geomorphology, geology and climate different sections of vegetation, that generally profits from fertile soils, can be found on the islands. Those are distributed according to altitude (vertically), orientation (horizontally). Also the human impact has to be mentioned, as agricultural landuse has altered the natural vegetation.

SOCIAL GROUP, 21st of April, 2011

Anna Oberrauch, Nora-Csilla Vicsai, Aljaz Celarc, Carlos Alves, Jaime Jover Báez

Visit to Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava.

We started discussing about what social geography is. For our research the main question is how different groups or individuals shaped the landscape and how they interacted with each other or they work against each other. In social geography from a human ecological point of view social groups compete against each other for best space for their needs.

In the discussion we identified several interesting issues, regarding the area we have visited. Firstly we discussed the uneven distribution of population and consequently some landscape conflicts. Landscape conflicts as a result of quick society changes from agriculture society to tertiary tourism economy system, since the 60s. Secondly, and linked to that we were told about the second residence matter, from people who usually live in the capital. So we have a special landscape in La Orotava where we were able to identify the different land use distribution too: there are agriculture use, old farmers; also people moved from the coast due to the ground prices increased heavily and families from the capital coming on holidays. This is an example of how distinct social groups interact in a territory.

Our conclusion was that we will have an open-mind the upcoming days for all social issues we will cope.

RURAL GROUP, 21st of April, 2011

Today we have been to a small town called “La Orotava”. It’s a typical example of what used to be a traditional rural area in the Canary Islands. This settlement has experienced many changes through different periods which can be seen in the different type of building. The traditional houses were near the fields on the plot. The storage was located on the ground floor and the living room was on the first floor. People still live on the first floor but the function of the ground floor has changed, now these places are used for tertiary activities or as a garage, like shops and restaurants, and fields near the house are either built or they are no cultivated because there is a lot of speculation.

The terraces show how agriculture was an important activity in the past. By this system the local farmers managed to use more space for agricultural activities. Now the Island is losing his agricultural areas in favor of urbanization. This could cause massive problems in future because food supply will be insufficient. The landscape is transforming from a rural to an urban one.

ECONOMY GROUP, 21st of April, 2011

The Canary islands are situated between 28 degrees north and 15 degrees west, which comprehends the subtropical belt. Due to the trade winds the north of the islands is very humid, with lots of precipitation, meanwhile the south is more desertic. In the 15th century the Canarias were conquered by the Spanish and they exchanged the products with the natives, who until then used agriculture only for self sufficency.

The economy of the islands was based on three fundaments:
1. number and quantity of resources available on the island;
2. comercial realtions with other continents;
3. number of inhabitants.

During the history there were regular crises in each century:
1. sugar cane: it was exported to Europe, the crisis emerge when the production of Cuba become cheaper (16th century);
2. vineyard: exportation to England, it's destroyed because of the sickness filoxera (19th century);
3. bananas and tomatoes: because of more competent, cheaper production of other countries (19th, 20th century);
4. tourism: it emerged in the 19th century with high quality tourism, later in 50s and 60s of the 20th century due to the Marshall plan started the massive tourism. The prices of the flights were going down, because the number of tourists was increasing. In the past few years there was a crisis, because the demand was lower than the offer (due to the mass construction of hotels) and the tourist focus is only on the south of the islands (better weather, because of that in the north the quality is going down). Recently it started to recover, mainly because of the conflicts in the countries of north Africa.