Exploring Volcanic Lanzarote
The Canary Island of Lanzarote is best known as a package holiday destination. Boasting great beaches, a clement year round climate and modern tourist resorts. Factors which help to attract over 1.5 million foreign tourists every year. But this small speck of Spain offers visitors much more than just sun loungers and suntans alone. As away from the coast lies a surreal volcanic interior. Which has been further complemented by the work of a highly creative island born artist called César Manrique.
During the 1730´s Lanzarote endured a six year long volcanic eruption. This cataclysmic event buried around one quarter of the island in a sea of lava, punctuated by hundreds of spent volcanic peaks. Creating mile after mile of twisted terrain that is often likened to the surface of the moon. At the time these seismic shocks forced many Lanzaroteños to abandon their birthplace and seek out new lives abroad. With many starting new lives in central and South America.
Today however this region – known as The Fire Mountains – is one of Spain’s most popular national parks. Welcoming over 900,000 tourists during the course of last year alone. In the centre of the Park visitors can watch as the wardens demonstrate how much thermal power these dormant volcanoes still generate. They pour water into small holes in the ground – which is then rapidly expulsed again in huge steaming jets. Whilst chefs barbecue chickens on massive grills –using the heat emanating from below to cook the food. Elsewhere on the island César Manrique fused this terrain with his own artistic aesthetic to create a series of remarkable visitor attractions.
When holidays in Lanzarote first started to take off in the late 1960´s Manrique wanted to demonstrate that it was possible to create environmentally friendly alternatives to the water parks and golf courses so popular in other Spanish sunspots. The first major expression of his philosophy was the transformation of a huge lava tunnel into the Jameos del Agua. A subterranean concert venue, nightclub and sea water lagoon that was regarded as something of an architectural marvel at the time. Attracting VIP visitors such as Peter Sellers and Omar Sharif to this unusual new holiday destination located just off the coast of West Africa. Manrique went on to create a further seven tourist centres around the island. All fusing art with nature in a similar vein to the Jameos del Agua. Such as his own house and studio in Tahiche – now home to the César Manrique Foundation. Which was built over five bubbles in the lava flow. Whilst also campaining against the worst excesses of tourist over development.
Successfully securing an outright ban on all high rise buildings and adverting hoardings which remains in place to this day. Manrique´s work – along with the island’s unique volcanic terrain – resulted in Lanzarote being declared a UNESCO protected biosphere in 1994. Making it the first island in the world to enjoy such status.
