We continue in this new post on our blog telling, tourists and residents, some curiosities on the island of Fuerteventura.<\/h5>\n
STARLIGHT RESERVE <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We continue in this new post on our blog telling, tourists and residents, some curiosities on the island of Fuerteventura. FUERTEVENTURA, THE ELDEST OF THE CANARY ISLANDS Fuerteventura is the eldest of the Canary Islands. It originated, like the rest of the Canaries, through marine volcanic processes, which began to surface about 22 million years … Continue reading Some curiosities of the island of Fuerteventura and the Canary Islands as a whole (part II)<\/span>
\nFUERTEVENTURA, THE ELDEST OF THE CANARY ISLANDS
\n<\/strong>Fuerteventura is the eldest of the Canary Islands. It originated, like the rest of the Canaries, through marine volcanic processes, which began to surface about 22 million years ago, and it is uncommon to find volcanic islands over 6 million years old, so it is a true challenge of nature.
\nThe last volcanic eruption on the island was about 10.000 years ago, and it was the one that formed the Volcano of La Arena, in the municipality of La Oliva, with a magnificent landscape, known as \u201cMalpa\u00eds de La Arena\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Excursiones](\"http:\/\/blog.fuertecharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cuadernosdeetnografia.blogspot.com-.jpg\")
\nMAXORATA AND JAND\u00cdA
\n<\/strong>Fuerteventura was originally made up of two separate islands, separated by a sandy isthmus that, after several volcanic episodes, grew and lformed a single island. However, throughout history these two parts continued somewhat divided. When conquerors arrived in Fuerteventura, called Erbania then, the island was divided into two kingdoms: Maxorata (north) and Jand\u00eda (south), each ruled by a warrior: Guize in the north and Ayoze in the south. When the conquerors arrived, these great warriors finally laid down their arms and surrendered, along with their men, the island becoming part of the Crown of Castile in 1476. The first capital of the island, Betancuria, is then set (up to XIX century), after the Norman conqueror Jean de Bethencourt.<\/p>\n![\"Excursiones](\"http:\/\/blog.fuertecharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/es.enjoyfuerteventura.net-.jpg\")
\nTHE ADJECTIVE \u201cMAJORERO\u201d
\n<\/strong>At the time of the conquest (XV C.), the word \u201cMaho\u201d was used to refer to the Amazigh people who were on the island of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote when the conquerors arrived. There are two hypotheses of the etymology of the term: first it was thought to come from the Amazigh word \u201cMahu\u201d which means \u201cto skin, that is, to remove the skin\u201d in relation to a type of footwear made of the skin that was used at the time. Another hypothesis, perhaps best known, assures that it comes from the word Maxorata, the Amazigh \u201cMah\u00e2r-at\u201d, which means sons of the country, and that was the name that was given to what is now the northern part of Fuerteventura, to the isthmus of \u201cLa Pared\u201d. Later on, \u201cmajorero\u201d began to be used exclusively to refer to the people born in Fuerteventura.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCANARY BEACH\u201d
\n<\/strong>Its nearly 80kms of beaches turn this island into the best prepared for bathing and for water sports of all the Canary Islands. Many people from the rest of the islands come to Fuerteventura in summer to spend their holidays, due to the charm of its beaches.<\/p>\n![\"Fuertecharter](\"http:\/\/blog.fuertecharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/los-ojos-el-tigre1.jpg\")
\nBIOSPHERE RESERVE
\n<\/strong>All the territory of Fuerteventura has been declared Biosphere Reserve since May 2009 due to its wild nature.
\nDespite its arid nature, this island has a rich biodiversity and is the largest representation of steppe and desert habitats in the whole archipelago, and also in the European Union, being a perfect Geo-paleontological observatory (50 sites with fossil records).
\nIts marine environment is undoubtedly the richest in the Canary Islands.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>On July 31st<\/sup>2015, the sky of Fuerteventura was definitely acredited with a certificate for the quality of its skies, becoming the third Starlight Reserve in the Canary Islands, with Tenerife and La Palma, out of the 7 existing throughout the world: Sierra Morena and Sierra Sur de Ja\u00e9n (Andalusia), Montsec (Catalonia), National Park Fray Jorge (Chile)and Acadian Skies and Mi\u2019kmaq Lands (Canada).
\nWith this certificate, Fuerteventura is committed to protecting the quality of their night sky, also associated with cultural, scientific, astronomical, or natural values.<\/p>\n![\"Excursiones](\"http:\/\/blog.fuertecharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/www.tripadvisor.es-.jpg\")
\nFUERTEVENTURA: SEA TURTLES NEST
\n<\/strong>The coast of Fuerteventura, especially the Jand\u00eda peninsula in the south, is one of the favorite places in the world for sea turtles to nest and breed. Out of the 8 species of turtles in the world, 4 of them frequent the \u201cmajorera\u201d coasts.<\/p>\n
\nCOFETE BEACH: BACKGROUND OF FAMOUS FILM SHOOTINGS
\n<\/strong>Cofete beach in the municipality of P\u00e1jara, has been chosen as setting for Hollywood blockbusters, including \u201cThe Planet of the Apes\u201d (1968) and, more recently, the movie \u201cExodus\u201d (2014), all because of its spectacular landscape.<\/p>\n
\nLIGHTHOUSES IN FUERTEVENTURA
\n<\/strong>The island of Fuerteventura has 4 lighthouses: one in Cotillo, another one on the island of Lobos, one in \u201cPunta de Jandia\u201d and one of special beauty, the one on \u201cLa Entallada\u201d, built on a cliff.<\/p>\n![\"Excursiones](\"http:\/\/blog.fuertecharter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/www.panoramio.com_.jpg\")
\nFuerteCharter Team<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n