PICTURES OF 21st, 22nd AND 23rd

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SOCIAL GROUP, 23rd of April 2011

Visit to San Cristobal de La Laguna and Anaga Natural Park.

For that two places, the most important for us part took place in La Laguna. First we were sightseeing along the old town, former upper town, which was the rich part of the city and currently World Heritage declared by UNESCO. On the other hand, we were taken to visit the lesser town, a place where poor people settled. The urban development of these neighbourhood was concretely during the 60s and 70s, when many migrants came back to La Laguna moved by the new economic situation, the same one that had made them to move to south America (especially Venezuela and Cuba) twenty years before, due to Franco’s autarchy. So, this place became the main area where immigrants settled.

Since that we have seen today the migration issue and due to we had already discussed about it yesterday, we have been now thinking through how to deal with this topic. Then, we realized is going to be hard to study. Once we reckon immigration is not releasable due to the difficulty to get data and carry out a proper field work in just three days, we decided not to study it itself. Discussing other ideas, we talked about social structure and differences and connections of old towns in midlands and new urban coastal areas within a municipality. Concretely, we have agreed that it is interesting the differences between these towns, not only in economics terms, but in social aspects. In order to develop that field work, we have seen that the municipality of Mogán in south Gran Canaria might be a good example for making that comparison. We will see it live in the upcoming days.

RURAL GROUP, 23rd of April 2011

Day 3

Today we went to visit “Parque Rural de Anaga” which is a rural Park with 14418,7 Has. Rural Parks are defined, as parks which not only preserve the environment itself but also the cultural heritage in it, like the traditional settlements (Casas-Cuevas), the manmade terraces, the customs and traditional activities such as livestock breeding (Goats) and subsistence cultivation, local products (cheese, wine, gofio).

The “Guanches”, coming from North Africa were the first who were cultivating the Anaga area because in this area the soils are the most productive ones. They lived in caves near the coast below 400 meters. Their economy was based on raising goats and collecting fruits and seafood.

Due to unpleasant conditions like low accessibility this territory experienced a high emigration starting in the sixties. The people mainly moved to La Laguna and Santa Cruz. Today many of them have their secondary home in Anaga and they return during the weekend for socio-economic reasons.

In 2001 the Rural Park had around 2500 habitants living in 26 settlements. Agriculture remains an important complement to the families budget. They have vineyards, are cultivating potatoes and raise cattle and goats. In addition, they fish. Wine production enabled the establishment of a “Wine-Route” which attracts many tourists.

The region has experienced a huge migration to the nearby urban areas. This has left a massive impact on the local population which gets older every year. To be continued…

Economy group, 23rd april, 2011

To correct the information of the national park Teide, we want to add, that this park is one of the most rentable parks in Spain. The price for the uplift to the mountain station and back is 25 €. Like we wrote yesterday, the visitors don't have to pay anything for entrance and parking. The area of the park is owned by the municipials around, but they don't have any authority. The head organisation is part of the national government. Because the park earns money this way, it is possible to subvent the park on Grand Canaria. To increase the incomes, it would be a possibility of introducing entrance fees for personal vehicles including special offers in combination with the ticket for the funicular, a discount in restaurants and a special offer for those who come by public transport. Another option would to give the visitors more informatin about the park area (for example teaching paths). In this case the people spend more time in the park and make them more sensible about the environment. If they stay longer they maybe also let more money in the park.

New Neighborhood

(..)Because of a bad economic situation on the islands during and after the second world war, many people from Tenerife emigrate to South America (Cuba and Venezuela). After economy relaxed in the 60s and the tourism gained importance, the former emigrants became immigrants again. There where two types of people coming back. The rich ones also called "the Indians" and the others who had no success in America, had to plant their own vegetables on their houses in the city. Later on they became part of the tourism business. The homecoming people influenced the economy by bringing their money back to Tenerife.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, 23rd of April 2011

Anaga Mountains / La Laguna

Climate parameters on the island provide favourable condition for laurisilva forest to grow (air humidity, precipitation, temperature). These conditions are given in the northern expositions of the island on the altitude between 500 and 1500 m a.s.l. where clouds are being formed at this latitude. On the southern slopes of the island the opposite conditions (low humidity) makes it impossible to grow. During the recent glaciations the island provided niches where the laurisilva could survive, therefore it can be named tertiary forest.

From the ecological point of view the laurisilva has a special importance. Firstly it is the last remnant of this habitat that used to populate large areas and secondly it provides a vast biodiversity (higher density of species as continental Europe).

In the area of Anaga, which we visited, large amounts of laurel forest can be found. This Natural Park provides the special protection the forest requires in order to fulfil its valuable ecosystem functions.

It has to be mentioned that the area of Anaga represents one of three paleovolcanos spread across the island. Between Anaga and the Teide (youngest volcano) a basin was formed which in the recent past continuously filled up with sediments from both mountains and eventually facilitated the establishment of settlements (San Cristóbal de La Laguna). One of the factors that encouraged the foundation of the settlement was the presence of a lake within the basin. Due to human activities the lake gradually had to give way to pasture land use.

ERASMUS IP 2011. CANARY ISLANDS. SCHEDULE:

20th April, Wednesday. Arrival at Tenerife Sur airport. Accommodation in Puerto de la Cruz .

21st April, Thursday. Visit to Puerto de la Cruz: historic core and recent urban processes. Visit and meal in La Orotava. Welcome dinner.

22nd April, Friday. Visit to Teide National Park and Interpretation Centre. Route 4 (four hours).

23rd April, Saturday. Guided visit to La Laguna. Anaga Mountains: Interpretation Centre. Taganana – Benijo.

24th April, Sunday. Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Agaete (overview of a bananas cultivation area and explanation of process of abandonment and urbanization experienced in the last fifteen years). Visit to Bandama’s volcanic caldera. Villa de Santa Brígida and San Mateo. Accommodation in Playa del Inglés.

25th April, Monday. Playa del Inglés (gradient tourist resort). Maspalomas sand dunes. Lunch. Melonera’s Coast.

26th April, Tuesday. Route along the southern midlands of the island: area of dams, including explanations about the geological nature, the hydropower project underway, the harshness life in the Island south side and on the tops as well as the formations of ‘Pinus canariensis’. Meal at Tamadaba’s pine forest.

27th April, Wednesday. Work in groups.

28th April, Thursday. Work in groups. International Beach football Tournament and picnic.

29th April, Friday. Work in groups.

30th April, Saturday. Work in groups. Two presentations in the afternoon.

1st May, Sunday. Presentations in the morning. Agaete – Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Accommodation in Puerto de la Cruz. Farewell dinner.

2nd May, Monday. Flight back home.