Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (las ˈpalmaz ðe ɣɾaŋ kaˈnaɾja) commonly known as
Las Palmas (las ˈpalmas) is the political capital, jointly with
Santa CruzSanta Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
, the most populous city in the
Autonomous CommunityAn autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of the
Canary IslandsThe Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
and the
ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half (45.9%) of the people of the island and 18.35% of all inhabitants of the Canary Islands live in this city. It is also the fifth most populous urban area in Spain with a population of around 700,000 and (depending on sources) ninth or tenth most populous metropolitan area in Spain with a population of 625,892, 640,000 or 741,826. Las Palmas is the largest city of the European Union outside Europe. It is located in the northeast part of the Spanish island of
Gran CanariaGran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
, about 150 kilometers (~93 miles) off the northwestern coast of Africa within the Atlantic Ocean.
Las Palmas enjoy a subtropical climate, with mild to warm temperatures throughout the year. According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in the United States, Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world".
It was founded as city in 1478, considered the de facto only capital of the Canary Islands until the seventeenth century. Today, the city is capital of Canary Islands with Santa Cruz and home to the Canarian Ministry of Presidency (shared in a 4-year term with
Santa Cruz de TenerifeSanta Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
), one half of the ministries and boards of the Canarian Government, (the other half being located in Tenerife), Gran Canaria Provincial Courts and two courts of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.
History
The city was founded by
Juan RejónJuan Rejón was an Aragonese captain in the service of the Castilian navy, who was appointed by the Catholic Monarchs to participate in the conquest of the Canary Islands. Rejón founded the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria....
on 24 June 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas". Rejón was head of the invading
CastilianKingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
army, before engaging in war with the local
GuanchesGuanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
(aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). In 1492,
Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
(Spanish:Cristóbal Colón) anchored in the Port of Las Palmas, and spent some time on the island on his first trip to the Americas. He also stopped on the way back to Spain. The Casa Colón museum in the Vegueta area of the city is named after him. In 1595
Francis DrakeSir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
failed to plunderThe Battle of las Palmas was an unsuccessful English naval expedition in 1595 during the Anglo-Spanish War against the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. The English Fleet was originally directed towards Puerto Rico, but had taken a detour in hopes of an easy victory and gaining provisions...
the island. The raid and partial destruction of Las Palmas by the Dutch under Vice Admiral
Pieter van der DoesPieter van der Does was a Dutch naval commander. He was the son of Jacob van der Does , schepen of Leiden during its siege.-Life:...
in 1599 is considered a major event in the city's history. In 1927, Las Palmas was designated the premier capital of the Canary Island by decree of 30 November 1833,
In July 1936 General
Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
launched a coup from Las Palmas that eventually turned into the
Spanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
The Las Palmas seaport, Puerto de la Luz, benefited greatly from the closure of the
Suez CanalThe Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
during the Arab-Israeli conflict. Due to its situation as nexus of two continents and its importance as a tourist destination, many foreign workers have migrated to the city.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a sister city of
San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in the United States, which was founded in 1718 by about 25 Canary Islanders.
Administrative divisions
Las Palmas is divided into five administrative districts, which in turn are subdivided into districts, not necessarily consistent with the traditional neighborhoods.
| No |
District |
Population |
| 1 |
Vegueta, Cono Sur y Tafira |
73,243 |
| 2 |
Centro |
88,546 |
| 3 |
La Isleta-Puerto-Canteras |
71,412 |
| 4 |
Ciudad Alta |
101,684 |
| 5 |
Tamaraceite-San Lorenzo |
39,191 |
Climate
Las Palmas has a Subtropical – semi-arid climate with
MediterraneanA Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
precipitation patterns, with warm dry summers and moderately warm winters. Its average annual temperature is 20 °C (68 °F) – 23 °C (73.4 °F) during the day and 17 °C (62.6 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January – the temperature typically ranges from 18 to 23 °C (64.4 to 73.4 F) during the day (and sometimes more), around 15 °C (59 °F) at night, the average sea temperature is 19 °C (66.2 °F). In the warmest months – August and September – the temperature typically ranges from 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84.2 F) during the day, above 20 °C (68 °F) at night, the average sea temperature is 23 °C (73.4 °F). Large fluctuations in temperature are rare.
On the August 1990 reported record, the average maximum temperature of the month during the day was 30.6 °C (87.1 °F). The coldest temperature ever recorded was 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) at night on 27 March 1954. The highest wind speed ever recorded was on the 28th of November 2005, measuring 113 km/h (70.21 mph). Las Palmas city has never recorded any snow.
Annual average
relative humidityRelative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is 68%, ranging from 65% in March to 71% in October. Sunshine duration hours is above 2,800 per year, from around 190 in winter (average above 6 hours of sunshine duration at day) to around 300 in summer (average 10 hours of sunshine duration at day). It rains on average only 33 days a year, with total precipitation per year of only 133 mm (5.2 inches). Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world" according to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore at
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
Demographics
As of 2008 nearly 1/5 (18.35%) of all inhabitants of the Canary Islands live in Las Palmas.
Throughout history, Las Palmas received waves of immigrants from mainland Spain and countries from every continent. The majority of the population is Spanish, although there are large North and Sub-Sahara African and Latin American communities, as well as important historical minorities such as Indians (
SindhiSindhis are a Sindhi speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province Formerly of British India, now in Pakistan. Today Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity...
) and
Koreans-Demography and distribution:2006 statistics from Spain's Instituto Nacional de Estadística showed 2,873 registered residents of Spain born in South Korea, of whom 514 held Spanish nationality, while 2,359 held other nationalities. Among Spanish nationals, men outnumbered women by a ratio of 1.3:1,...
and a growing population of Chinese.
Ethnically, most Canarians are descendents of a mixture of
GuanchesGuanches is the name given to the aboriginal Berber inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they migrated to the archipelago sometime between 1000 BCE and 100 BCE or perhaps earlier...
(aboriginal people of the Canary Islands now extinct) and
the Spanish colonizers and European (Portuguese, Italian, Irish,
FlemishThe Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
, German) conquistadors.
| Year | | Density |
| 1991 |
354,887 |
3,529.46/km2 |
| 1996 |
355,563 |
3,536.18/km2 |
| 2002 |
370,649 |
3,686.22/km2 |
| 2004 |
376,953 |
3,748.92/km2 |
| 2007 |
377,203 |
3,751.40/km2 |
| 2008 |
381,123 |
3,790.38/km2 |
| 2010 |
383,308 |
3,812.11/km2 |
Culture
Las Palmas offers a variety of theater, cinema, opera, concerts, visual arts and dance performances. The city hosts the Canary Islands Music Festival, the Theatre and Dance and the International Film Festival. The main City Festival, celebrating the foundation of the City (
Fiestas de San Juan) is held in June. The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is known not only in Spain but also worldwide, and is one of the main attractions for tourists. The city center of Las Palmas, specifically the Vegueta and Triana neighbourhoods, are included in the tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Museums, theatres and exhibition halls
- The Museo Canario is located in the historic district of Vegueta. Founded in 1879, it is an international partner of the Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). It has a valuable collection of Canary archaeological objects, which are exhibited in 16 halls. It is also equipped with a library of over 60,000 volumes, many of them dealing with the Canary Islands topics. Its archive covers period from 1785 until today.
- The Casa Museo de Colón is in the Plaza de San Antonio Abad, behind the cathedral. It focuses on the history of the Canary Islands and its relations with America. It has 13 permanent exhibition halls, a library and dedicated study center, and diverse spaces for temporary activities. The complex consists of several houses, one of which was accessed by Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
during his first trip to America in 1492; it was the residence of former Governor (now better known as home of Columbus). It is organized into five subject areas: America before the Discovery, Columbus and his journeys, Canary enclave strategic base for experimenting with the New World, The history and genesis of the city of Palmas, and painting of the 16th century to start of the 20th century.
- The Casa Museo Pérez Galdós is located in the Triana neighborhood of the city. It is the birthplace of Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós was a Spanish realist novelist. Considered second only to Cervantes in stature, he was the leading Spanish realist novelist....
. It has an extensive collection of documents, books, furniture and personal belongings of the writer.
- The Museo Néstor is in the neighborhood of Garden City. Dedicated to the modernist painter Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre, the museum was opened in 1956 in the architectural ensemble of the Pueblo Canario, which was conceived and built by his brother Miguel. It has 10 exhibition halls, as well as a documentation center and pedagogy.
- The Elder Museum of Science and Technology is an innovative, interactive, engaged in scientific and technological culture. Elder located in the building, which dates from the end of 19th century has 4500 m² (5,382 sq yd) of exhibition halls, workshops, interactive modules, large-format film and greenhouse ecosystem.
- The Maritime Museum, located in the former Jet Foil station has around 1000 m² (1,196 sq yd) of floor space. When the expansion is finished, will have a giant pool to simulate interactive bay, where a large ship can be handled by visitors.
- The Atlantic Center of Modern Art (CAAM), opened in 1989, is one of the most important references for the cultural and artistic life of the Canary Islands, and is responsible for disseminating the art made in the islands to the rest of the world, especially Africa, America and Europe. It has permanent and temporary exhibitions that range from the historical avant-garde to the latest trends. It is located on Calle Los Balcones de Vegueta, and preserves the original façade of the 18th century.
- The Teatro Pérez Galdós was designed by the architect Francisco Jareño y Alarcón in 1867. Its current appearance, with some modifications, is due to the intervention of Fernando Navarro and Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre after the fire that destroyed it almost entirely in 1928. Miguel Martín's brother, the painter Néstor de la Torre, was commissioned to decorate the stalls, lounges and the stage. It was originally called Teatro Tirso de Molina until 1901, when, with occasion of the premiere of Electra, the theatre was renamed after the canarian writer Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós was a Spanish realist novelist. Considered second only to Cervantes in stature, he was the leading Spanish realist novelist....
. Following works of renovation, the theatre reopened in April 2007.
- The Cuyás Theater, on the stage of the former Cine Cuyás is a work of rationalist Canarian architect Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre. Its main hall has a capacity for 940 people, divided between the stalls and two amphitheatres. It also has a large patio that allows the organization of outdoor events. It is currently constructing an alternative test room with capacity for one hundred seats.
- The Sala Insular de Teatro is a scenic area which lies in the main hall of an old church. In 2007, after some refurbishment, the Board reopened its doors to the public, welcoming small local assemblies.
- The Guiniguada Theater after a decade long refurbishment, will reopen in 2011.
Auditorium and Convention Center
- The Auditorio Alfredo Kraus is located on the Atlantic, near the Playa de Las Canteras, one of the most privileged areas of the city. Its 13200 m² (15,787 sq yd) floor area has 11 rooms which accommodate from large conventions and concerts to conferences.
- The Palais des congrès de Gran Canaria is in the premises of the Institución Ferial de Canarias with a capacity for 800 people on 16000 m² (19,136 sq yd).
- The Center for Initiatives of the Caja de Ahorros de Canarias (CICC) is housed in a mid-19th century building by the architect Manuel Ponce de Leon in the in the neighborhood of Triana. It is a small conference center with the latest technology and up to 500 guests.
Libraries
The city has a wide network of libraries. Along with the 11 municipal libraries, there are three specialized centres:
- The Library Island, which has the capacity for 500 users in its three floors, besides a hall and more than 100 computer connections with 20 Internet access points.
- La Biblioteca Simón Benitez Padilla, center specializing in geology, biology and ecology that contains valuable bibliographical former president of the Museum Canario Simón Benitez Padilla, notable advocate of the study of the Canarian culture.
- The Archives Joaquín Blanco, which contains 160 years of history of the city, as the burning of the Houses Consistoriales in 1845 destroyed the previous document repository.
A library is situated in the first floor of
Woermann TowerWoermann Tower also Torre Woermann is a mixed-use tower in Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Completed in 2005, the tower was designed by Abalos & Herreros in collaboration with Joaquin Casariego and Elsa Guerra, and built by Ferrovial Inmobiliaria...
.
Other cultural events
- Dance Center
- Festival of Theater and Dance
- Festival Internacional de Cine de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Canary Islands Music Festival
- Jazz Festival
- Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Founding Celebrations
- WOMAD Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
(World of Music Arts and Dance)
- Opera Festival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Fantastic and Terror Film Festival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Nightlife
The historic district of Vegueta has regained great popularity in recent years, the meeting place of choice at weekends for many young people, who fill its bars and discos. In the port area are also numerous bars and nightclubs, particularly in the vicinity of Santa Catalina.
The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria usually takes place between January and February each year; popular activities include Mogollon dances and queen and the
drag queen galas. The WOMAD (World Of Music, Art & Dance) Festival usually occurs in November each year in the capital of Gran Canaria – 2010 marks the sixteenth edition.
Beaches
The city has four main beaches: Las Canteras, Las Alcaravaneras, la Laja, and Confital.
- Playa de Las Canteras (Las Canteras Beach) Las Canteras is the largest of the existing city, and is frequented throughout the year by most city dwellers and foreign visitors. It lies on the west side of the Isthmus of Guanarteme, which links the peninsula of La Isleta, located to the northeast, with the rest of the island of Gran Canaria. The 3,100 m beach is oriented to the northwest in what is known as Confital bow or bay, and stretches from the foothills of La Isleta until shortly before the mouth of the ravine Tamaraceite. Along much of this length, the beach is sheltered from the currents of the Atlantic by a natural barrier of coral sandstone popularly known as "the bar", which is in easy swimming distance from shore. A system for environmental management has been introduced, and the beach has received ISO 14001 certification – one of only three beaches in Spain to do so, namely La Concha in San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
and La Victoria in CádizCadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. On the inner side of the coast, runs the Paseo de Las Canteras, pedestrian street that runs parallel along the beach from near the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus to the area known as "Puntilla" and hence, in line, until reaching near the beach Confital, place some years ago was only frequented by surfers, which creates what many consider as the best wave right in Europe. La Playa de Las Canteras covers three areas that correspond to the arches and inflections that it conducts on the coast. Each presents certain morphological characteristics.
- Playa de Las Alcaravaneras (Las Alcaravaneras beach) stretches rising side of the Isthmus of Guanarteme, old language of sand dunes and mountains linking the peninsula of La Isleta, located to the northeast, with the rest of the island of Gran Canaria. It extends from the Real Club Náutico de Gran Canaria until his meeting with the new marina breakwater of the city for just over half a mile of fine golden sand. The whole beach is covered by the promenade, which starts in Las Alcaravaneras, communicates with the Playa de San Cristobal and ending in Playa de La Laja, ten miles south. This ride is one of the recreational areas of the city and is popular with people who take the opportunity to walk, run, play sports or cycling. The tranquility of the bay and yacht clubs proximadad of existing beach makes a great place to practice sports such as sailing and canoeing. Furthermore, the beach there are facilities for the practice of other sports like beach volleyball, beach soccer or futvóley (organized tournaments in the summer) and court sports such as basketball, indoor soccer and volleyball.
- Playa de la Laja (La Laja Beach) with fine gray sand, is approximately 1200 m long and 40 m average width. Its moderate waves and currents is no longer dangerous following the construction of a dam in the south in the 90s, too. At the time, the Ministry of Environment also trawled the seabed to bring sand from the near seabed onto the beach; the construction of a boardwalk has significantly improved pedestrian access. Due to the intensity of their streams and receiving waves, La Laja has been hailed as a favorite surfers' beaches. Between April and October, it is the starting point for boat races every weekend.
- Playa del Confital (Confital Beach), southwest of the peninsula of La Isleta, is a natural extension of Las Canteras Beach. The area normally suitable for swimming covers about two kilometers, but the coastal strip is much greater. It consists of panels of rock with a layer of gravel at the end of them. Until some years ago, the beach was home to a small shanty town which was eradicated; the land of the Confital went back to being public. Ensuing works proved controversial, as some environmental movements and the residents of the city questioned the legality of the proceedings. The waves arriving at the beach are highly valued by amateur and professional surfers, some consider the Confital as one with the best waves in Europe. Here, the ocean currents form a tube that is used by more experienced surfers for its speed and strong contrasts. Each year, qualifying events for the professional world surfing championship take place on this beach.
Parks and squares
- Avenida Marítima
- Avenida Mésa y López
- El Confital
- Fuente Luminosa
- Parque de la Mayordomía
- Parque de Santa Catalina
- Parque Doramas
- Parque Juan Pablo II
- Parque San Telmo
- Plaza de Canarias
- Plaza de España
- Plaza de La Feria
- Plaza de Las Ranas
- Plaza Santa Ana
- Triana
Roads and highways
Urban road infrastructure is overburdened on workdays and in certain areas; the city street plan is not at all rectilinear, and may be confusing even to experienced drivers. However, there are no toll roads; entrances, exits, main streets and important zones are all well-signposted.
Las Palmas, being the centre of the Las Palmas metropolitan area, is the hub for the island's motorway network. The city is linked with three highways: the GC-1 to the south, the GC-2 to the west and GC-3 to the center of the island.
The GC-1 links the capital with
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico is a specially constructed holiday resort situated on the south-west coast of Gran Canaria. The island's proximity to the African continent ensures an ideal climate, particularly in the winter, when the temperatures remain constant at around 20-25°C.The volcanic origins of Gran Canaria...
in the south. It is the fastest route from the top of the island to the bottom and vice versa with a speed limit of 120 km/h (74.6 mph). It is approximately 75 km (46.6 mi) in length and runs along the eastern and the southern coasts, and is also the second longest superhighway in the Canary Islands. The road provides easy access from the airport to the major cities and resorts, which include Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. The increase in tourism over the years has necessitated the route's upgrading and widening to cope with traffic growth. The GC-1 begins south of the downtown area of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the highway runs within the beach of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and 2 km south intersects with the GC-2 and later runs with a few clover leaf interchanges and later forms a junction with GC-5 and south, the GC-31.
The GC-2 North Highway connects Las Palmas with the small northern port and village of
AgaeteAgaete is a municipality of Las Palmas province, on the Canary Islands, Spain. It is in the northwest of Gran Canaria island, enclosed by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Gáldar to the northeast, and Artenara to the south...
. The eastern portion – about 20 km in length – is a superhighway with interchange numbers, the rest of the highway is a two-laned; the western part is also only two-laned and has exit numbers. The highway begins by the beach area of the island, and runs through the downtown area, linking with the GC31 at a roundabout interchange. The freeway runs within the beaches and the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean for the half part but at around the 20th km, it becomes a highway after the unidirectional parclo interchanges and runs within the coastline, it later has several interchanges and several towns as it passes to the northwest and finally, it ends in Agaete.
Airport
Las Palmas is served by Gran Canaria Airport, often called
Las Palmas Airport . In 2008, it handled 10,212,106 passengers,. This airport handled 33,695,248 kg of cargo, and is the fourth busiest in Spain. It is also the only airport on the islands with two runways, thus can accommodate up to 53 landings and take-offs per hour. The lengthy runways make the airport an alternative landing site for the NASA
Space ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. Also this airport is a base for
Binter CanariasBinter Canarias S.A. is an airline based in Gran Canaria, Spain. It is a regional carrier operating inter-island services within the Canary Islands, in addition to services to Morocco, and Portugal. The airline carried 2.9 million passengers in 2008...
and Navegacion y Servicios Aéreos Canarios, airlines which operate regional inter-island flights within the Canary Islands. The Airport is located in the eastern part of the island, about 18 km (11.2 mi) from the Las Palmas city center.
An airbase of the
Spanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
is located to the east of the runways. Beyond several hangars opposite the passenger terminal, the Gando Air Base (
Base Aérea de Gando) contains ten shelters situated on the southern end of the eastern runway.
Seaport
Puerto de Las Palmas (Port of Las Palmas), also known as 'Puerto de la Luz' (Port of Light), or Puerto de la Luz and the Las Palmas is a main port for fishing, commercial, passenger and sports in the northwest of the city. It has been the traditional base for scale and supplying ships on their way through the Middle Atlantic for five centuries. The Port of Las Palmas is not only the first port of the Canary Islands, it is one of the main ports of Spain and the first of the geographical area of West Africa. As the leading port in the mid-Atlantic, it serves as the crossroads between Europe, Africa and America. In 2007, the port received some 11,262 ships; it welcomed a total of 907,782 cruise passengers, a 16.26% increase on 2006. In terms of annual
TEUThe twenty-foot equivalent unit is an inexact unit of cargo capacity often used to describe the capacity of container ships and container terminals...
, the port of Las Palmas ranks as the 5th in Spain, and is among the first 15 ports of Europe.
The Port of Las Palmas is the first Mid-Atlantic fishing base, with an annual traffic of more than 4,500 stopovers and with some 400,000 tons of frozen fish processed. Despite experiencing some decline in recent years, it retains its dominance in the fishing industry over other ports in the Canary Islands. The port provides 175,000 cubic meters of cold storage facilities. At the foot of pier, special refrigerated containers and preparation rooms for frozen products owned by Trastainer can carry out the entire chain of post-processing and storage of fish, from refrigeration and distribution, to manufacture and supply of industrial ice. The port's EU-approved border inspection post is responsible for inspecting all types of imports and exports between the European Economic Union and its trading partners.
Public transportation
Las Palmas boasts a high quality bus system, provided by
Guaguas Municipales. Municipal Bus Lines offers 40 urban transport routes, covering both the bottom and the top of the city. The main lines are the 1 (Teatro - Puerto), 2 (Alameda de Colón - Puerto), 17 (Teatro - El Rincón), 25 (Campus Universitario - El Rincón), 12 (Puerto - Hoya de la Plata) and 30 (Alameda de Colón - Santa Catalina, via Rehoyas). In addition, two circular lines (A: Santa Catalina - Santa Catalina, via Alcaraveneras) and B (Santa Catalina - Santa Catalina, via Ciudad Alta).
The most important bus lines have frequencies of between 3 and 15 minutes during the day and between 10 and 40 minutes at night; most lines have service throughout the night. The bright yellow buses are known simply as 'guaguas'. The unique tarif, paid directly to the driver, is 1.20 euro. A 10-ride ticket is available for 6.50€ at official shops in the city. The Tarjeta Insular (Island Card) which offered a 20% discount on both municipal buses and Global buses was discontinued on 1 January 2011.
Global, inter-hire company, has 119 lines, many to or from the capital. This company was formed in 2000, resulting from the merger of the previous Salcai and interurban lines Utinsa.
There is also the
Guagua Turística, which covers the most interesting sites of the city with a guide in several languages.
Under construction
El Tren de Gran Canaria (TG) is a rail project initially proposed as an alternative way to get from Las Palmas to
MaspalomasMaspalomasCountry:Autonomous Community:Province: Las PalmasIsland: Gran CanariaMunicipality: San Bartolomé de TirajanaPopulation:33,000 Coordinates:Time zone:CET, UTC+1Elevation:5 amslPostal code:35290Map...
but was later raised to
AgaeteAgaete is a municipality of Las Palmas province, on the Canary Islands, Spain. It is in the northwest of Gran Canaria island, enclosed by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Gáldar to the northeast, and Artenara to the south...
extension.
Another project is the Tramway Palmas (Gran Canaria), which would cover the same journey as the bus line 1, with an average frequency of 5 minutes and a journey time of 35 minutes.
Sports
Las Palmas is home to five major professional sports teams. These are:
- UD Las Palmas
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
- association football club playing in Segunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
; it has two stadia: Estadio de Gran Canaria, with a capacity of 32,665, and Estadio InsularEstadio Insular was a multi-use stadium in Las Palmas, Spain. It was initially used as the stadium of UD Las Palmas matches before Estadio Gran Canaria opened in 2003. The stadium held 21,000 people and was built in 1945.-External links:**...
(estadio insular is now closed), with a capacity of 22,000. Honours: Spanish SuperLeagueThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
: Runner-up 1968-69, Spanish CupThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: Runner-up 1977-78, Semifinal: 1974, 1984, 1997.
- CB Gran Canaria
Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria - Claret, S.A.D. is a professional basketball team that plays in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto. The team is based in the autonomous community's capital and largest city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. It plays at Centro Insular.-History:CB Gran...
- basketball club playing in Liga ACB at the Centro Insular de DeportesCentro Insular de Deportes is an arena in Las Palmas, Spain. It the home arena of the basketball team CB Gran Canaria. The arena holds 4,500 people....
, with a capacity of 5,200. Honours: 1/8 finals of ULEB Eurocup: 2007.
- CV Las Palmas - volleyball club playing in Superliga Femenina de Voleibol
The Superliga Femenina de Voleibol ' is the top level of Spanish volleyball. The championship was founded in 1989. The administration of the league is carried out by the Real Federación Española de Voleibol...
, also at the Centro Insular de DeportesCentro Insular de Deportes is an arena in Las Palmas, Spain. It the home arena of the basketball team CB Gran Canaria. The arena holds 4,500 people....
.
- La Caja de Canarias (Club Voleibol J.A.V. Olímpico) - volleyball club playing in Superliga Femenina de Voleibol
The Superliga Femenina de Voleibol ' is the top level of Spanish volleyball. The championship was founded in 1989. The administration of the league is carried out by the Real Federación Española de Voleibol...
.
Las Palmas will be one of the arenas of
2014 FIBA World ChampionshipThe 2014 FIBA World Championship will be the 17th tournament of the FIBA World Championship held by Spain.- Host selection :FIBA opened the bidding process on January 10, 2008 and all the letters of intent were submitted on April 30, 2008....
. Matches will be played in the new arena -
Palacio de Deportes de Las PalmasPalacio de Deportes de Las Palmas, also named Palacio Multiusos de Gran Canaria is a description of a planned indoor sporting arena located in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Once opened in 2013, the capacity of the arena will be 11,500 spectators. It is being built for the 2014 FIBA World...
with a capacity of about 10,000.
Many [mainly] outdoor sports are practised in city and neighbourhood, for example: surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming, diving, skydiving, paragliding, running, cycling, rowing, tennis and golf (mainly in
Las Palmeras Golf,
Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas,
El Cortijo Club de Campo and
Oasis Golf). Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas, inaugurated on 17 December 1891, is the oldest golf club in Spain.
Twin towns — sister cities
Las Palmas is
twinnedTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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People from Las Palmas
- Alfredo Kraus
Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish tenor of partly Austrian descent, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles...
, was a Spanish tenor, one of the best tenors in the 20th century;
- Antonia San Juan
Antonia San Juan is a Spanish actress, director and screenwriter.She was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. At 19 she went to Madrid, where she started working as a professional theatre actress and also as a cabaret act in pubs and bars. She became known thanks to her role as Agrado in...
, a Spanish actress, director and screenwriter;
- Antonio Betancort
Antonio Rodrigo Betancort Barrera is a former Spanish football goalkeeper who played for UD Las Palmas, Real Madrid C.F., Deportivo La Coruña and for the Spanish national team.-External links:...
, football (soccer) player. Former goalkeeper of Real Madrid, Deportivo de La Coruña and U.D. Las Palmas;
- Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós was a Spanish realist novelist. Considered second only to Cervantes in stature, he was the leading Spanish realist novelist....
, one of the best writers in the 19th century;
- Carla Suárez Navarro
Carla Suárez Navarro is a Spanish tennis player. She began playing for Spain in the 2008 Fed Cup. On May 18, 2009, she reached her career high ranking at World No. 22.-2008:...
, tennis player;
- Francisco Kraus, Spanish baritone, and a voice teacher;
- Javier Bardem
Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem is a Spanish actor. In 2007 he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as sociopathic assassin Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men, and has also garnered critical acclaim for roles in films such as Jamón, jamón, Carne trémula, Boca a boca, Los...
, a famous Spanish actor (Academy Award–winning)
- Jerónimo Saavedra
Jerónimo Saavedra Acevedo is a Spanish politician. He served as President of the Canary Islands from 1983 to 1987, and again from 1991 to 1993....
(Former Spanish Minister of Education and Science, Minister of Public Administrations of Spain, President of Canaries and now Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria);
- José Comas Quesada
José Comas Quesada was a Canarian painter born in the Puerto de la Luz, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He is considered one of the greatest exponents of watercolour painting, both in the Canaries and Spain, of the last quarter of the 20th century.- Artistic beginnings :Comas started in the art of...
, painter;
- José Viera y Clavijo;
- Juan Carlos Valerón
Juan Carlos Valerón Santana is a Spanish footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña as an attacking midfielder.Valerón is known for his technical abilities, especially passing skills and ball control...
, football (soccer) player;
- Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Juan Fernando López Aguilar is a Spanish Socialist Workers' Party politician, and former Minister of Justice in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. He also represented Las Palmas in the congress between 2000 and 2004....
(Former Spanish Minister of Justice);
- Juan José Armas Marcelo, a Spanish writer;
- Juan Negrín
Juan Negrín y López was a Spanish politician and physician.-Early years:Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Negrín came from a religious middle-class family...
, politician;
- Kira Miró
Kira García-Beltrán Miró is a Spanish actress and a presenter.-As an actress:* Los abrazos rotos * Rivales * Gominolas - Susana / Menta...
, actress;
- Lolita Pluma, (1904–1987) Eccentric character of parque de Santa Catalina, remembered as a statue of her, surrounded by cats;
- Magüi Serna
María Luisa Serna Barrera is a professional female tennis player from Spain. She started competing in ITF challengers as from 1993, and joined the WTA Tour in 1996. On her high point she was ranked World No...
, tennis player;
- Manuel Pablo García Díaz, football (soccer) player;
- Marta Marrero
Marta Marrero Marrero is a former professional Spanish tennis player. She reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, won two WTA doubles titles, and also won a total of 12 ITF singles and doubles titles. Her highest singles rank on the WTA Tour was World Number 47, which she reached in 2004...
, tennis player;
- Mateo Gil
Mateo Gil Rodríguez is a Spanish screenplay writer and director.-Writer:*Agora *Mar adentro *Vanilla Sky...
(writer and film director);
- Nicolás Estévanez
Nicolás Estévanez was a Spanish military officer, politician and poet.Born in Las Palmas on 17 February 1838 the son of captain Francisco Estévanez and of Isabel Murphy...
, military officer, politician and poet;
- Sven Giegold
Sven Giegold is a German politician for the Alliance 90/The Greens party and one of the founding members of Attac Germany. He became a member of the Greens only in 2008, and was elected to the European Parliament in the 2009 elections....
, a German politician;
- José Doreste
José Luis Doreste Blanco is a Spanish sailor and olympic champion. He competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he won a gold medal in the finn class....
, a Spanish sailor and olympic champion
- Luis Doreste
Luis Doreste Blanco is a Spanish sailor who won gold medal both in the 1984 Summer Olympics , and in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona ....
, a Spanish sailor and 2x olympic champion
- Roberto Molina
Roberto Molina is a Spanish sailor and Olympic champion. He won gold medal in the 470 class at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, together with Luis Doreste.-References:...
, a Spanish sailor and olympic champion
- Patricia Guerra
Patricia Guerra Cabrera is a Spanish sailor who won gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. She did so in the 470 class alongside Theresa Zabell. She also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics, finishing in tenth place.-References:*...
, a Spanish sailor and olympic champion
- Björn Dunkerbeck
Björn Dunkerbeck is a professional windsurfer who has won Professional Windsurfers Association Overall World Championships a record twelve times....
, a windsurfer and World Championships a record twelve times
External links