The Caldera de Taburiente is, simply, unique and impressive. The park was created in 1954 for being representative of one of the most important Spanish habitats: the Canary pinewood. Its scientific importance and landscapes have always attracted thousands of visitors who, year after year, have visited the island with a sole purpose in mind: to gaze open-mouthed at this immense natural beauty
The immense proportions of this crater make it one of the biggest in the world, 28 km in circumference, 10 km across the widest part and 1,500 m deep. Inside stands Idafe Rock, where the Benahoaritas came here to praise their God, Abora. The surrounding mountains rise to 2426 m and are often snowcapped in winter. The highest is home to one of the most important Astrophysics Observatories in the world: The Roque de los Muchachos Astrophysics Observatory. Other noteworthy peaks are Pico del Cedro (2247m), Pico de la Nieves(2239m), Somada Alta (1926m) and Pico Bejenado (1854m)
The interior of the Caldera is home to towering pines, ferns, birds, geological formations and crystal clear springs which meet at a place known as Dos Aguas. This water is used for agriculture and household purposes. There are no roads inside the park, so if you wish to visit, you must do so on foot. If you want to stay overnight, there is a campsite, but a permit must be obtained in advance (see "Caldera de Taburiente National park Visitor Centre" below)
GENESIS OF THE LA CALDERA DE TABURIENTE
Different theories have tried time and again to unveil the origin of the Caldera de Taburiente. After much debate, nowadays, most scientist agree that this National Park was formed by a series of submarine volcanic eruptions, which raised a vast amount of rock to at least 3,000 m.
Then a million years of erosion produced the immense crater we see today.
FLORA Y FAUNA
The most abundant plant species is the Canary pine (Pinus Canariensis). Besides, there are ferns, sticky brooms (Adenacarpus viscosus), ceder trees (Juniperus cedros) and the La Palma violet (Viola Palmensis), heather trees, and many bushes such as broom together with plants which have no English name because they only grow in the Canary islands: tedera, gacia, bejeques and amamantes.
Fauna, on the contrary, is less abundant. However, there are many bird species such as kestrels, Choughs, sparrow hawks, buzzards and crows.
Caldera De Taburiente National park Visitor Centre
The National park Caldera de Taburiente offers its visitors an excellent Visitor Centre , above El Paso, on the Los Llanos-Santa Cruz road, next to the Cumbrecita turn-off.
They issue camping permits for the National Park. You can also obtain information, maps, guides and leaflets, or look at the exhibition hall, audiovisual room and library.
ADDRESS AND CONTACT
Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente
Centro de Visitantes
Ctra, General de Padrón, nº 47
38750.- El Paso
Telephone number: 922 49 72 77 * Fax: 922 49 70 81
E-mail: caldera@mma.es
Futher information in:
Official website:
http://www.gobcan.es/cmayot/espaciosnaturales/espaciosnaturales/lapalma/p0.html
