Garajonay National Park - Wikipedia 14/05/23 19:54

Coordinates: 28°07′34″N 17°14′14″W

Garajonay National Park

Garajonay National Park (Spanish: Parque
nacional de Garajonay, pronounced [ˈpaɾke naθjoˈnal de Garajonay National Park
ɣaɾaxoˈnaj]) is located in the center and north of the IUCN category II (national park)
island of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands
(Spain). It was declared a national park in 1981 and a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. It occupies
40 km2 (15 sq mi) and it extends into each of the six
municipalities on the island.

Nearly 450,000 tourists visit the park every year.

There is accommodation for tourists just outside the
park's boundary.[1]

The park is named after the rock formation of

Garajonay, the highest point on the island at 1,487
metres (4,879 ft). It also includes a small plateau
whose altitude is 790–1,400 metres (2,590–4,590 ft)
above sea level. Features of the national park include
the massive rocks that are found along the island.
These are former volcanoes whose shapes have been
carved by erosion. Some, like the "Fortaleza" (fortress
in Spanish) were considered sacred by the native
islanders, as well as ideal refuges when attacked.[2] Location La Gomera, Canary Islands,
The park is crossed by a large network of 18 footpaths, Spain
trekking being one of the main tourist activities in the
island. Coordinates 28°07′34″N 17°14′14″W
Area 40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Established 1981

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Type Natural
Criteria vii, ix
Designated 1986 (10th session)
Reference no. 380 (https://whc.unesco.org/

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en/list/380)
Region Europe and North America

Roque Ojila Roque de Agando

Roque de La Zarcita

Environment

Plants
Many of the species of flora and fauna are endemic to the Macaronesian islands, the Canary Islands
or La Gomera, and the Garajonay forest harbors a rich biota of understory plants, invertebrates,
and birds and bats, including a large number of endemic species. The park provides the best
example of Canarian laurisilva, a humid subtropical forest that in the Tertiary covered almost all of
Southern Europe. It is also found on the Azores and the Madeira Islands. Laurus azorica, known
as Azores laurel, or by the Portuguese names louro, loureiro, louro-da-terra, and louro-de-cheiro,
can be found in the park, as well as Laurus novocanariensis, known as Canary laurel. Although
named as a single type of forest, the national park englobes several varieties of forests. Most humid
and protected valleys oriented to the North have the richest and most complex forests. It is known
as valley laurisilva, a true subtropical rainforest where the largest laurel trees can be found. At
higher altitudes, with less protection from wind and sun, the forest loses some of its more delicate
species. Here it is called slope laurisilva (laurisilva de ladera). At the south the forest is mainly a
mix of beech and heather, species adapted to the less humid atmosphere. In August 2012, a forest
fire burned 747 hectareas (18%) of this national park.[3]

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Animals
Two species of reptile, Gallotia gomerana (Gomeran lizard) and Chalcides viridanus (Gomeran
skink), can be found. Amphibians include the stripeless tree frog, Hyla meridionalis. The park is
renowned as one of the best places to observe the two Canarian endemic pigeons, laurel pigeon
(Columba junoniae) and Bolle's pigeon (Columba bollii). The park has been recognised as an
Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of various
birds. As well as thew two endemic pigeon species, these include Barbary partridges, plain swifts,
Eurasian sparrowhawks, Berthelot's pipits and island canaries.[4]

Gara and Jonay

The peak and park are named after Guanche lore, the hapless lovers Gara and Jonay. Their
romance evokes those of Romeo and Juliet and Hero and Leander. Gara was a princess of Agulo on
La Gomera. During the festival of Beñesmén, it was customary for unmarried girls of Agulo to gaze
at their reflections in the waters of Chorros del Epina. If the water was clear, they would find a
husband; if it was cloudy, some misfortune would befall them. When Gara looked at the water, she
saw her reflection clearly. However, she gazed too long and the sun's reflection blinded her
temporarily. A wise man named Gerián told her that this meant that she needed to avoid all fire or
else it would consume her.

Jonay was the son of the Guanche mencey or king of Adeje on Tenerife, who arrived on the island
to celebrate these ceremonies. Jonay's participation in the ensuing games attracted the attention of
Gara, and the two fell in love. Unfortunately, when the engagement was announced, the volcano
Teide, visible from La Gomera, began to erupt as if in disapproval. This was interpreted as a bad
omen and the couple’s respective parents broke the engagement. Jonay was made to return to
Tenerife, but one night, he swam across the channel that separated the two islands and rejoined his
beloved. Their respective fathers ordered that the two be found. The lovers were soon trapped on a
mountain, where they decided to take their own lives.

The park's wooden Garajonay National Enchanted Forest, Guanche Sanctuary

statues of Gara and Park seen by Spot Garajonay National in the summit of
Jonay Satellite Park, La Gomera, Garajonay
Spain. mountain.

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Garajonay National Park - Wikipedia 14/05/23 19:54

Laurisilva in the After the 2012 forest

Garajonay National fire
Park.

References
1. 갈라호네이국립공원 (http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS
_IDX=101013000875440). www.doopedia.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-04-16.
2. Carracedo, J. C. (Juan Carlos); Troll, V. R. (26 May 2016). The geology of the Canary Islands (
https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/951031503). Amsterdam, Netherlands. ISBN 978-0-12-809664-2.
OCLC 951031503 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/951031503).
3. El Cabildo de La Gomera ve una 'planificación malévola' tras el incendio (http://www.elmundo.e
s/elmundo/2012/08/07/espana/1344339219.html)
4. "Garajonay National Park" (http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/garajonay-national-park-ib
a-spain). BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

External links
Garajonay National Park (http://www.parquesnacionalesdecanarias.com/en/Garajonay/)
Legend of Gara and Jonay (https://web.archive.org/web/20041228021313/http://www.rubens51
.com/leyenda_gara_jonay.htm) (in Spanish)

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