| Garajonay National Park |
The Park is located in the island´s upper reaches, from 800 m. to its highest point, Alto de Garajonay, at 1.487 m. Most of the surface is covered by luxuriant evergreen forest, an element of contrast in a predominantly arid island.
These forests have come into being due to the peculiar climate in this area, characterized by frequent mists and high humidity, with mild temperatures averaging around 14 - 15⁰C. Frost occurs only at high altitudes, and annual rainfall is about 600 - 900 mm, largely concentrated in autumn and winter. Mist plays a major part in the functioning of the ecosystem by reducing evaporation loss and at the same time depositing water on the vegetation.
The Canary Greenwood, a Unique Ancestral Forest. Popularly known as monteverde or greenwood in allusion to the evergreen vegetation, these formations are known technically as laurel forest and wax myrtle-heath. The first term alludes to well-preserved forests of trees with laurel-type leaves situated in shady, moist enclaves; the second refers to formations containing a high percentage of heath, characteristic of drier, colder locations with poorer soil resulting from degradation by human exploitation.
These forests are a veritable relic, conserving part of the flora typical of the forests that populated the Mediterranean region millions of years ago, and that have since vanished from the continent as a result of climatic changes which scarcely affected the islands.
In addition, there is an important population of exclusive flora and fauna which are unique in the world, the outcome of differentiated evolution favoured by the isolation provided by the ocean.
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