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South Tenerife and Teide 7.-9. 12. 2021
Wednesday, 08 December 2021
Tourist paradise facilities that we've seen just before landing on Tenerife. We didn't go there.
Waking up in our first morning on Tenerife at Las Lajas, 2100 m above sea level instead.
Our cold breakfast forced us to return back to the coast instead of going in the Teide caldera. We didn't manage to get camping gas the day before.
Neither we managed today, as there was apparently a public holiday. Taking a bath instead.
Town Las Galletas on the south beach.
Volcanic southern coast of Tenerife.
»Here must be Montaña Pelada Beach«
With some sand dunes from volcanic sand.
And also a lot of wind in action.
Justyna has got beard from using sunscreen.
The beach.
Balsam spurge (Euphorbia balsamifera) is one of the few plants succeeding in such harsh environment.
Tafoni in what it seems to be some volcanic sediments.
More sand on the slopes.
Life sprouting from nothing.
Ensenada Pelada settlement from the rim of Montaña Pelada volcano. Montaña Roja is visible in the distance.
They grow bananas under these white fabrics that are protecting them from strong and dry winds.
Not a particularly interesting look inside the Montaña Pelada Crater.
Opuntia or prickly pear cactuses start to dominate the landscape at a bit higher elevations of Granadilla de Abona.
The first winter rain brought some lushness back to the plants. The first winter rain brought some lushness back to the plants.
Canary Island's pines (Pinus canariensis) start to occur at elevations above 1000 m and are the most common trees on Tenerife.
Pino Gordo is with 45 m one of the highest and with between 700 and 800 years one of the oldest.
A tribute to General Grant in Sequoia National Park.
Personified prickly pear.
There is almost no wind above the cloud condensation level.
Sunset back at Las Lajas.
There behind is the Teide Caldera.
After consuming the tastiest papaya so far.
Retama del Teide (Spartocytisus supranubius) is another endemic species to Canary Islands and grows at around 2000 m elevation.
Inside the Teide Caldera next morning.
Museum at the caldera entrance called Boca Tauce.
Very good road through the whole caldera.
Lava fields from different eruptions.
Panorama of the depression where a lake forms during intense precipitation.
The same depression as seen from Mirador Azulejos.
It seems that the vieweing point got its name from the bluish colour of the tuff bedrock.
The eruptions that formed Teide started about 50 000 years ago.
Cañadas del Teide accommodation on the left and Nuestra Señora de las Nieves hermitage on the right.
La Ruleta Vista Point and Roques de García behind it are our main hiking goal today.
Phonolite volcanic pipes and dykes were more resistant to weathering than surrounding tuff and now stand out as these formations.
Path leading through the Roques de García.
Hexagonal shape of the rock formed because of slow magma hardening.
Erysimum scoparium is native to Canary Islands and seems to thrive in this high desert.
Not only that cable car to Teide was not operating due to strong winds, also hiking paths were closed.
Large rock made of volcanic sediments. Where could it come from?
Phoehoe lava.
We continued a bit towards Teide.
To see these hidden lava tube caves, that are unfortunately fenced off.
A photo of the interior taken through the fence.
Returning back on the southern side of Roques de García
If both lava and water flow, then there is a petrified lavafall on this saddle.
Whole rock face is covered with tafoni.
Distinct difference in vegetation between the relatively new lava flow and older surface.
This is a remnant of Red bugloss (Echium wildpretii) that is known for its vividly red flowers.
Some flowers still remaining on this plant endemic to Teide Caldera. It nearly got extinct due to cattle grazing.
Looks like the same plant that will form the red rosette this year.
Heading back to the car.
Several lava flows from Teide just under the volcano cone.
Minas de San Jose further towards the east are filled with pumice.
Better half on the Moon.
Pumice formes when gas-rich lava is being hurled high up in the sky.
Another petrified lava flow.
There is surprisingly little pumice down in the lower parts of caldera.
Teide from the other side this time.
Shiny obsidian surface. Unlike pumice, obsidian forms when viscous lava containing little gas is quickly cooled down.
They used to dig out pumice until the area has become a national park.
Teide Observatory (in the distance) benefits from dry air and high altitude.
Spending the evening somewhere between the mountain and the coast.
Arona downtown.
Traditional architecture.
It's Christmas time!
Canary Islands dragon tree (Dracaena draco) is one of the most characteristic trees here.
Looking forward to waking up on countryside next morning.
