Chinijo Archipelago

Archipelago in the Canary Islands

Chinijo Archipelago

Native name:

Archipiélago Chinijo

Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Montaña Clara and Alegranza from above

Map of Chinijo Archipelago

Etymology| Small archipelago
Geography
Location| Atlantic Ocean
Total islands| 5
Area| 40.9 km2 (15.8 sq mi)[1]
Coastline| 54.435 km (33.8243 mi)[2]
Administration

Spain

Autonomous Community| Canary Islands
Province| Las Palmas
Island| Lanzarote
Municipality| Teguise
Largest settlement| Caleta de Sebo (pop. 730)
Demographics
Population| 734 (2018)[3]
Languages| Spanish, specifically Canarian Spanish
Additional information
Time zone|

* WET (UTC±00:00)

• Summer (DST)|

* WEST (UTC+01:00)

The Chinijo Archipelago (pronounced [tʃiˈnixo]) is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands. The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island. The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's reduced dimensions. The Chinijo Archipelago forms part of the national park Parque natural del Archipiélago established in 1986, and is part of a large marine reserve.

## History

[edit]

The Chinijo Archipelago is primarily of volcanic origin, with its islets formed approximately 10 million years ago by the activity of a corona volcano in northern Lanzarote.[4] French explorer Jean de Béthencourt, who explored Lanzarote in the early 1400s, traversed the waters leading to La Graciosa in the Chinijo Archipelago.[5] The archipelago was declared as part of the Natural Park of Parque natural del Archipiélago in 1986.[6] It forms part of one of the largest marine reserves in Europe.[6] The term "Chinijo" is a local colloquial adjective meaning "small" reflecting the archipelago's smaller dimensions.[7]

## Geography

[edit]

La Graciosa and other islands of Chinijo Archipelago seen from Lanzarote

Chinijo is a small group of islands located in the northeastern part of the Canary Islands.[8] The archipelago includes the islets of Montaña Clara, Alegranza, La Graciosa, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, of which La Graciosa is the largest and only inhabited island.[6][5] La Graciosa has a historical livelihood rooted in fishing, with small boats traditionally bringing fresh catches to shore.[6]

The natural park covers a total area 91.12 km2 (35.2 sq mi), also includes part of the rocky north coast of the island Lanzarote (los riscos de Famara). The area of the natural park overlaps with that of a separately designated marine reserve.[9][10] The European Union designated a Special Protection Area for birds in 1994.[11]

## Topography

[edit]

The Chinijo Archipelago consists of predominantly volcanic highlands characterized by numerous volcanic cones and craters. Montaña Clara in the islands the largest volcanic crater in the archipelago.[4] The topography consists of white sandy beaches interspersed with black volcanic rocks along the oast.[5] Risco de Famara is a large cliff on the northern coast of Lanzarote, which offers an overall view of the archipelago.[5]

Volcanoes[12] Volcano  | Commune /
Locality  | Description  | Altitude  | Photograph

|
|
|
|

Montaña Amarilla,  | La Graciosa
29°13′0″N 13°32′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.21667°N 13.53333°W﻿ / 29.21667; -13.53333 | Volcanic cone  | 172 m  |
Montaña Bermeja  | La Graciosa  | Volcanic cone  | 157 m  |
Montaña Lobos  | Close to coast of Alegranza 29°23′0″N 13°30′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.38333°N 13.50000°W﻿ / 29.38333; -13.50000 | Volcanic cone  | 221 m  |
Montaña del Mojon  | Coast of La Graciosa 29°14′0″N 13°30′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.23333°N 13.50000°W﻿ / 29.23333; -13.50000 | Volcanic cone  | 188 m
Montaña de Pedre Barba  | La Graciosa
29°15′0″N 13°30′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.25000°N 13.50000°W﻿ / 29.25000; -13.50000 | Volcanic cone  | 266 m  |
Montaña Clara | Montaña Clara 29°17′0″N 13°32′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.28333°N 13.53333°W﻿ / 29.28333; -13.53333 | Volcanic cone  | 256 m  |
Roque del Oeste | Teguise, Chinijo

29°19′0″N 13°31′0″W﻿ / ﻿29.31667°N 13.51667°W﻿ / 29.31667; -13.51667

| Volcanic cone  | 41 m  |
Roque del Este | Teguise, Chinijo

29°16′35″N 13°20′15″W﻿ / ﻿29.27639°N 13.33750°W﻿ / 29.27639; -13.33750

| Volcanic cone  | 84 m  |

## See also

[edit]

* Geology of the Canary Islands

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Superficie de los islotes de Lanzarote" [Surface of the islets of Lanzarote] (in Spanish). Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
2. ^ "Longitud de costa de los islotes de Lanzarote" [Coastline length of the islets of Lanzarote] (in Spanish). Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
3. ^ "Población de derecho de Teguise según unidad poblacional. Evolución (2000-2018)" [Legal population of Teguise by settlement. Evolution (2000-2018)] (in Spanish). Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
4. ^ a b "Discover the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park". Biosfera Express. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
5. ^ a b c d "La Graciosa - Chinijo". Lanzarote. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
6. ^ a b c d "Chinijo Archipelago La Gracisoa" (PDF). Turismo Lanzarote. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
7. ^ "Chinijo, ja" (in Spanish). Academia Canaria de la Lengua. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
8. ^ "Chinijo Archipelago". spain.info. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
9. ^ "Protected Natural Areas". Gobier node Canarias. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015.
10. ^ "Boletín Oficial de Canarias" (PDF). Gobier node Canarias. pp. 9723 and 9865-9867. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
11. ^ "Getting to know the Canary Islands". turismodecanarias.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
12. ^ Smithsonian Institution (ed.). "Gloval Volcanism Program, Lanzarote".

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Chinijo Archipielago at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Islands and provinces of the Canary Islands

Main islands|

* Fuerteventura
* Gran Canaria
* La Gomera
* El Hierro
* Lanzarote
* La Palma
* Tenerife

Other islands|

* Chinijo Archipelago
* Alegranza
* Graciosa
* Montaña Clara
* Roque del Este
* Roque del Oeste
* Lobos

Provinces|

* Las Palmas
* Santa Cruz de Tenerife

29°20′N 13°30′W﻿ / ﻿29.333°N 13.500°W﻿ / 29.333; -13.500
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