History of Tenerife
Tenerife, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands, was formed by volcanic activity over 10 million years ago. Covering over 2,000 km² and home to approximately 850,000 people, the island is dominated by Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain at 3,717 meters. Its name comes from the Guanche words "tene" (mountain) and "ife" (white), a reference to the snow-capped volcano.
The Guanche People
Tenerife was first inhabited by the Guanche people, a primitive, cave-dwelling society believed to have originated from North Africa. They lived a simple, agrarian life and, lacking seafaring skills, had little contact with other islands. Their society was led by a king, and punishments for crimes varied drastically across the Canary Islands. The Guanche of Tenerife were known for their bravery and were the last of the indigenous groups to fall to Spanish rule.
Spanish Conquest
The Spanish conquest of Tenerife was led by Alonso Fernandez de Lugo and began in 1494. Initially, the Spanish faced a crushing defeat at the First Battle of Acentejo, where they lost 2,000 men. However, weakened by disease, the Guanche finally surrendered on December 25, 1495. The indigenous population was almost entirely wiped out, with survivors either enslaved or perishing from new diseases. The Spanish then cleared much of the native pine forest to establish sugarcane plantations.
After the conquest, Tenerife became a vital stopover for Spanish ships traveling to the Americas, including Christopher Columbus in 1492. The island faced numerous attacks, most famously from the British under Admiral Lord Nelson in 1797. During a battle at the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Nelson famously lost his right arm.
Modern Era
In 1936, Francisco Franco was exiled to Tenerife, where he conspired to launch the military coup that sparked the Spanish Civil War. The subsequent nationalist takeover led to the execution of many inhabitants and mass emigration to Latin America.
Historically, Tenerife's economy relied on agriculture and the export of cochineal, a natural dye. However, with the decline of cochineal production, tourism became the island's main economic driver starting in the late 19th century. Today, tourism shapes much of the island's development and provides the majority of jobs.
A tragic event in the island's recent history was the 1977 Tenerife Airport Disaster, which remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in history.
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