August 19th, 2010
Timanfaya Lanzarote Island’s National Park
Timanfaya National Park is situated on the western half of Lanzarote Island in the Canaries, and was declared a nature preserve in 1974. Timanfaya Lanzarote, stretching over 5,000 hectares, is composed completely out of volcanic soil. Colours of red, jet and ochre create a scene reminiscent of a painted moon’s surface. In 1993, UNESCO named Timanfaya Lanzarote a Biosphere reserve — an area that illustrates a dynamic between nature and people. One site-seer writes, “Coming here without seeing Timanfaya Volcano National Park would be like traveling to Giza and not visiting the Pyramids.”
Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, as it is called in Spanish, is one of the most popular attractions in Lanzarote was formed by volcanic eruptions. A volcanic eruption that began in the year 1730, and ended in 1736, covered whole towns. The mountains that surround this particular park are the Montanas del Fuego, otherwise known as Fire Mountains, and were also formed around the same time. In the years between 1730 and 1736, more than one hundred volcanoes erupted, destroying much of the countryside.
In addition to the enchanting barrenly beautiful landscape that Timanfaya National Park offers, it is also famous for the uncommon flora that populate the park, featuring over one hundred species of lichen, five different algae, and 15 species of moss. Timanfaya Park also boasts of other, higher species of flora, which eventually overcame the volcanic destruction, and re-populated the area. Animal life at this park features the Atlantic Lizard, which is endemic to the area, the Canary Island Wall Gecko, black 
rat, rabbit and the Canary Shrew. Bird watchers will thrill to over twenty types of feathered creatures that spend the cold months here.
Visiting travelers enjoy a repast of Canarian delicacies at the El Diablo Restaurant. Food is prepared on a cast-iron grill, which the chef sets atop of a hole in the ground, using natural volcanic heat. Site-seers can take a coach trip around the park, hike on one of the two walking paths which the Spanish National Parks have newly put into use or experience a camel ride and see Timanfaya from up high.
