Hidden in the interior of the Majorera Island, as the inhabitants of the Canary Islands call Fuerteventura, there is a field of plains of lavas of great beauty, known as Malpaís Grande. Would you like to know more about this place?
The beauty of the Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura is the faithful example of how the passage of time shapes the geomorphological remains so typical of the areas where there were volcanoes.
From the Lopesan Group blog, we want you to live new experiences discovering unforgettable places like Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura, which is one of the most important protected areas on the island.
Go ahead and explore it!
What is the Malpaís Grande de Fuerteventura natural landscape like?
Belonging to the most representative geological assemblages of the Majorera Island, Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura is a relief construction built by the volcanic emissions of the Caldera de Liria, the Caldera de La Laguna, the Calderita and the Caldera de Arrabales that spilled into the Barranco de El Pozo Negro to the coast.
In this way, Malpaís Grande is known as one of the most important volcanic plains within not only the island of Fuerteventura, but in the entire archipelago. In this area, three eruptive buildings are distinguished: volcanic cones, scoriaceous coneletes and “hornitos”.
The morpho eruptive space, better known as the Malpaís Grande lava field in Fuerteventura, has an approximate age, according to geological data, of 26,000 years.
The surface area of the Malpaís Grande protected area is around 3,245.3 hectares and here are the towns of Tequital and Casas de Tenis Coque. The first town has only 51 inhabitants and the second has 4 inhabitants. This is due to the arid conditions of the zone it is a protected area.
Malpaís Grande stands out for being a natural environment of singular beauty in which you can observe the intense hues of the lava field that present the mixture of yellow, white, ocher, and of course black tones.
Where is Malpaís Grande located in Fuerteventura?
The Protected Volcanic Area of the Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura is located between the municipalities of Antigua and Tuineje, in the center of the Majorera Island. Its limits are bordered to the south by the well-known Los Cuchillos de Vigán route and to the north by the Caldera de Gairía and Malpaís Chico. Do you want to know how you can get there?
If you are determined to know the Malpaís Grande natural space in Fuerteventura and you are staying in the south, you must travel to the northeast of the island on the FV-2 road that is a few meters from the Caldera de los Arrabales, where you can also go hiking.
However, another well-known way to travel to the lava field is leaving from the milling town of Tiscamanita in Tuineje, following the route to the renowned Caldera de la Laguna.
Also, you must bear in mind that one of its limits is the well-known area of Los Cuchillos de Vigán. So, if you go hiking within this circular route, you will be able to observe the Malpaís Grande of Fuerteventura from the top. Would you dare to go through it?
Protection of the Malpaís Grande natural area
On the island of Fuerteventura there are more than 13 natural monuments, rural parks, scientific research sites, and protected natural landscapes. Some of these emblematic sites are the following (surely you already know them, and if not, we invite you to discover the magic of these natural places):
- Cesspool
- Tindaya Mountain
- Dunes of Corralejo
- Caldera de Gairía
- Cardón Mountain
- Betancuria Park
Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura is part of the volcanic flow plains of Caldera de Liria, Caldera de La Laguna, Calderita and Caldera de Arrabales, which spilled their lava down the Pozo Negro ravine. On June 19, 1987, it became part of the Declaration of Natural Areas of the Canary Islands such as the Jandía Natural Park or the spectacular Pozo Negro, registered in Law 12/1987.
Later this law was ratified on December 19, 1994, and Malpaís Grande is now recognized as a protected landscape of high ecological sensitivity within the Natural Areas of the Canary Islands.
In the same law 12/1994, Malpaís Grande de Fuerteventura was declared a special area for the care of birds (ZEPA), as stipulated in Directive 79/409 / CEE regarding the Conservation of Wild Birds in Spain.
Fauna and Vegetation in Malpaís Grande
Surely you must be wondering, what are the species of wild birds in this area? There is a significant presence of birds of prey such as the common buzzard (Buteo buteo insularum), the guirre or Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
Given its volcanic origin, within the lava field, in Malpaís Grande, there is no abundant vegetation, but as always, nature surprises us and in these plains, there are unique specimens typical of the arid areas of the Canary Islands such as, for example, the thermomediterranean scrub, Coronilla viminalis and Asphaltum bituminosum, also known under the name of tedera.
If you are interested in discovering the attractions and curiosities that Canarian nature offers us, the Malpaís Grande lava fields in Fuerteventura are a great alternative to connect with a different natural environment.
Where to stay in Fuerteventura?
Without a doubt, the Majorera Island offers a large number of different landscapes that you should not miss. Malpaís Grande in Fuerteventura is one of them.
If you dare to visit Fuerteventura, at the Lopesan Group we offer you the option of staying in one of our hotels, located in idyllic Jandía.
We want to be part of your adventures!
