ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, 26th April 2011

Barranco de Fataga / Tejera / Lake Chira

Along the “Barranco de Fataga” a transition zone between coast and mid-altitudes can be found. Both islands (Tenerife and Gran Canaria) have the same geological origin, however they can be found on a different stage of the timeline. Tenerife is now there where G.C. was about 5 million years ago. Gran Canarias landforms can be explained by a three stage model. Starting at 40 Million years before present the formation of the island took place. The first big explosive eruption happened 8 million years ago followed by a calm period in the next 3 million years (different types of erosion were able to shape the landscape). At the end of this period the 2^nd volcano erupted and left behind a landscape full of calderas and much lower in altitude than e.g. Tenerife. Due to the different chemical composition of the rocks differential erosion configured the landforms. Coming into altitudes of about 1.500 meters vast surfaces are covered by the “Pinus Canariensis” (predominantly of young age and very dispersed as they are recovering from former deforestation).