Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

The Iron. The Iron

In recent months there has been a lot of talk about El Hierro due to its volcanic activity. It is the youngest island in the Canary Islands, with the highest volcanic density. it has 500 craters exposed, but also another 300, stored among lava jets.

The Iron was the geographical location of the Zero Meridian until it was replaced in 1885 by the English city of Greenwich. Today, in addition to historical anecdotes, the entire island is a biosphere reserve, thanks to the importance and richness of its biodiversity.

Embedded in spectacular landscapes, a large number of ecosystems are displayed side by side. An example are the Miter or Sabina trees. They are hundreds of years old and their whimsical forms are influenced by the alisios of winds that shake the island. Higher up, between 800 and 1,500 meters, it is dominated by the forest of laurisilba, also called “monteverde” by locals.

As for the fauna, the jewel of El Hierro is the giant lizard, a reptile that lives exclusively on this island. It was considered extinct, but in the 1970s a pastor unexpectedly discovered some specimens and created a lizard to ensure the survival of the species.

There are many other treasures under water. Mediterranean and Atlantic species are mixed and you can enjoy spectacular underwater landscapes in almost any corner of the island, such as the marine reserve of La Restinga.