Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

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Las Palmas
View of Las Palmas
Flag of Las Palmas Coat of arms of Las Palmas
Flag Coat of Arms
Location
Coordinates : 28°13′N 15°43′W / 28.217°N 15.717°W / 28.217; -15.717Coordinates: 28°13′N 15°43′W / 28.217°N 15.717°W / 28.217; -15.717
Administration
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Canary Islands
Province Las Palmas
Administrative Divisions 5
Mayor Jerónimo Saavedra (PSOE)
Geography
Land Area 100.55 km²
Altitude 8 m AMSL
Population
Population 381,123 (2008)
- rank in Spain: 9
Density 3,790 hab./km² (2008)
General information
Native name Las Palmas (Spanish)
Spanish name Las Palmas
Time zone WET (UTC +0)
- summer WEST (UTC +1)
Postal code 35001-35020
Website http://www.laspalmasgc.es

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria aka Las Palmas is the capital (jointly with the Santa Cruz) and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 381,123 in 2008. It is the fifth-most populous urban area in Spain with the population 700,000[1] and (depending on sources) ninth or tenth-most populous metropolitan area in Spain with the population 625,892[2], 640,000[3] or 741,826[4]. Located in northeast of the island of Gran Canaria, about 210 kilometers (~130 miles) off the northwestern coast of the African continent within the Atlantic Ocean.

According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at Syracuse University (USA), the city of Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world" [5][6][7].

The city is home to the Parliament of the Canary Islands, the Canarian Ministry of Presidency (shared in a 4-year term with Santa Cruz), one half of the ministries and boards of the Canarian Government, (the other half being located in Tenerife), the Gran Canaria Provincial Courts and two courts of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.

Contents

[edit] History

The city was founded on June 24, 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas" by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army, before engaging in war with the local Guanches (aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas. He also stopped on the way back to Spain. Today, a museum is named after him - Casa Colón - in the Vegueta area of the city.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is today a cosmopolitan city. It has five beaches (Las Canteras, Las Alcaravaneras, San Cristobal, El Confital and La Laja) and a big seaport (Puerto de la Luz harbor) that was very important during the 70s and early 90s (and benefited greatly from the closure of the Suez Canal during the Arab-Israeli conflict). Due to its situation as nexus of two continents and its importance as a touristic spot, many foreign workers have migrated and settled in the city.

The main City Festival (Fiestas de San Juan) is in June, celebrating the foundation of the City.

The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria[2] is also widely known not only in Spain but worldwide, one of the main attractions for tourists.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a sister city of San Antonio, Texas in the United States, which was founded in 1718 by about 25 Canary Islanders.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Administrative divisions of Las Palmas

Las Palmas is divided administratively into five districts, which in turn are subdivided into districts, not necessarily consistent with the traditional neighborhoods.

No District Population[8]
1 Vegueta, Cono Sur y Tafira 73,243
2 Centro 88,546
3 Puerto-Canteras 71,412
4 Ciudad Alta 101,684
5 Tamaraceite-San Lorenzo 39,191

[edit] Climate

Las Palmas has a Subtropical climate, with warm dry summers and moderately warm winters. Its average annual temperature is 20°C (68 °F): 23°C (75 °F) during the day and 17°C (63 °F) at night. In the coldest month - January, the typically temperature ranges from 18-21°C (64-70°F) during the day, 14-15°C (57-59°F) at night, the average sea temperature is 18°C (64°F). In the warmest months - August and September, the typically temperature during the day ranges from 24-28°C (75-82°F), above 20°C (68°F) at night, the average sea temperature is 23°C (73°F). Average number of days per year above 32°C (90°F) is only 3-4 (average 1 in July, 1 in August and 1 in September). Average morning relative humidity: 74%, average evening relative humidity: 60%[9]. Sunshine hours is till 2,776 per year, from 186 in December and January (6 hours of sunshine every day) to 310 in July (10 hours of sunshine every day)[10]. Average precipitation days per year is only 33, precipitation per year is only 13.3 cm (inches: 5.2)[11].

According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at Syracuse University (USA), the city of Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world"[12][13][14].

 Weather averages for Las Palmas 
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 20.6
(69)
21.0
(70)
21.8
(71)
22.1
(72)
23.1
(74)
24.7
(76)
26.5
(80)
27.1
(81)
27.1
(81)
25.8
(78)
23.8
(75)
21.8
(71)
23.7
(75)
Daily Mean °C (°F) 17.65
(64)
17.95
(64)
18.6
(65)
18.9
(66)
20.05
(68)
21.7
(71)
23.45
(74)
24.15
(75)
24.15
(75)
22.75
(73)
20.85
(70)
18.75
(66)
20.7
(69)
Average low °C (°F) 14.7
(58)
14.9
(59)
15.4
(60)
15.7
(60)
17.0
(63)
18.7
(66)
20.4
(69)
21.2
(70)
21.2
(70)
19.7
(67)
17.9
(64)
15.7
(60)
17.7
(64)
Precipitation cm (inches) 1.8
(0.7)
2.4
(0.9)
1.4
(0.6)
0.7
(0.3)
0.2
(0.1)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
1.0
(0.4)
1.3
(0.5)
1.8
(0.7)
2.7
(1.1)
13.3
(5.2)
Avg. precipitation days 5 4 4 3 1 0 0 0 2 3 5 6 33
Source: World Meteorological Organization (UN)[15].

[edit] Demographics

Demographics

Ethnically, the population is mostly a mix of Spanish, Portuguese, European (German and British) and South American, especially Cuba and Venezuela as well as Northern and Sub-Sahara African. There are also important historical minorities such as Indians (Sindhi), Koreans (see Koreans in Spain#Las Palmas) and lately Russians[citation needed].

Year Population[citation needed] Density
1991 354,887 3,529.46/km²
1996 355,563 3,536.18/km²
2001 354,860 3,529.19/km²
2002 370,649 3,686.22/km²
2003 377,760 3,756.94/km²
2004 376,953 3,748.92/km²
2007 377,203 3,751.40/km²
2008 381,123 3,790.38/km²

[edit] Culture

Las Palmas offers a relatively wide cultural variety of theater, cinema, opera, concerts, visual arts and dance performances are common on billboards in the city, highlighting the Canary Islands Music Festival, the Theater and Dance and the International Film Festival.

[edit] Museums, theaters and exhibition halls

  • The Museo Canario is in the historic district of Vegueta. Founded in 1879. This is a scientific-cultural range of international partner to the Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). It has a valuable collection of archaeological objects canaries, which are exhibited in 16 rooms. It is also equipped with a library of over 60,000 volumes, many of them about canaries. His archive spans from 1785 until today.
  • The Casa Museo de Colón is in the Plaza de San Antonio Abad, in the back of the cathedral. His presentation focuses on the history of the Canary Islands and its relationship with America. It has 13 permanent exhibition halls, a library and study center dedicated and diverse spaces for temporary activities. The complex consists of several houses, one of which was the residence of former Governor (now better known as home of Columbus), accessed by Christopher Columbus during his first trip to America in [[1492] ]. It is organized into five subject areas: America before the Discovery, Columbus and his journeys, Canary enclave strategic base for experimenting with the New World, The History and genesis of the city of Palmas, and painting of the sixteenth century to start of XX.
  • The Casa Museo Pérez Galdós is located in another neighborhood of the city, the Triana. It is the birthplace of Benito Pérez Galdós. Here is the best documentary on the Gran novelist with an extensive collection of documents, books, furniture and personal belongings of the writer.
  • The Museo Néstor is in the neighborhood of Garden City. Dedicated to the modernist painter Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre, was opened in 1956 in the architectural ensemble of the Pueblo Canario, which he conceived and built by his brother Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre . It has 10 exhibition halls, as well as a documentation center and pedagogy.
  • The Elder Museum of Science and Technology is an innovative, interactive, engaged in scientific and technological culture. Elder located in the building, which dates from the end of nineteenth century has 4500 m² of exhibition halls, workshops, interactive modules, large-format film and greenhouse ecosystem.
  • The Maritime Museum, located in the former station Jet Foil has around 1,000 m². Soon, when they finish the expansion, will have a giant pool to simulate interactive bay, where a large ship can be handled by visitors.
  • The Atlantic Center of Modern Art (CAAM), opened in 1989 is one of the most important references for the cultural and artistic life of the Canary Islands. Is responsible for disseminating the art made in the islands with the rest of the world, especially Africa, America and Europe. Has permanent and temporary exhibitions that range from the historical avant-garde to the latest trends. Located on Calle Los Balcones de Vegueta preserves the original facade of the eighteenth century.
Facade of the Teatro Pérez Galdós.
  • The Teatro Pérez Galdós was designed by the architect Jareño and Francisco Alarcón in 1867. His current appearance, with some modifications, is due to the intervention of Fernando Navarro and Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre after the fire that destroyed it almost entirely in 1928 . This latest collaboration with his brother, the painter Néstor de la Torre, who was commissioned to decorate the stalls, lounges and the stage. It was originally called the Theater of Tirso de Molina, until, in 1901, coinciding with the premiere of "Electra", adopted the name of the writer canary Benito Pérez Galdós. Following works of renovation, the theater reopened in April 2007.
  • The Cuyás Theater, on the stage of the former Cine Cuyás is a work of rationalist Canarian architect Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre. Its main hall has a capacity for 940 people, divided between the stalls and two amphitheaters. It also has a large patio that allows the organization of outdoor events. It is currently constructing an alternative test room with capacity for one hundred seats.
  • The Sala Insular de Teatro is a unique scenic area which lies in the main hall of an old church. In 2007, after some refurbishment works, the Board reopened its doors to the public, welcoming small local assemblies.
  • The Guiniguada Theater, which is currently closed while waiting for reforms, has for years been the scene of the representation of numerous theatrical production canaria.

[edit] Auditorium and Convention Center

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus

[edit] Libraries

The city has a wide network of libraries spread over different districts. Along with the 11 municipal libraries need to review these three centers:

  • The Library Island, which has capacity for 500 users in its three floors, besides a hall and more than 100 computer connections with 20 Internet access points.
  • La Biblioteca Simón Benitez Padilla, center specializing in geology, biology and ecology that contains valuable bibliographical former president of the Museum Canario Simón Benitez Padilla, notable advocate of the study of the Canarian culture.
  • The Archives Joaquín Blanco, which contains 160 years of history of the city, as the burning of the Houses Consistoriales in 1845 destroyed the previous documentary.

[edit] Other cultural events

[edit] Nightlife

One of the themed nights of Carnaval de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 2008

The historic district of Vegueta has regained great popularity in recent years, the meeting place of choice for many young people on weekends fill its bars and disco s. In the port area are also numerous bars and nightclubs, particularly in the vicinity of Santa Catalina.

During the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, usually between January and February, you can enjoy many activities such as popular Mogollon (dances) and galas of Franco and the drag queen. Special mention deserves the Festival WOMAD (World Of Music, Art & Dance), usually in November each year scenario is the capital of Gran Canaria. In 2008 has held its fourteenth edition.

[edit] Tourism

[edit] Beaches

View of Las Canteras beach

The city has five beaches, the most important is that of The Quarry, the other four beaches have the capital are The Alcaravaneras The Confital, San Cristóbal and La Laja

Las Casteras has certificate UNE-EN ISO 14001, AENOR, Spain that they only have the beaches of La Concha in San Sebastian and La Victoria in Cadiz, the introduction of a system for the management of the Environment .

The other most popular beach in the city is Las Alcaravaneras, is located adjacent to Pier Sports and within the waters of the Puerto de la Luz. Framed between two yacht clubs.

[edit] Parks and Squares

  • Avenida Marítima
  • Avenida Mésa y López
  • El Confital
  • Fuente Luminosa
  • Parque de la Mayordomía
  • Parque de Santa Catalina
  • Parque Doramas
  • Parque Juan Pablo II
  • Parque San Telmo
  • Plaza de Canarias
  • Plaza de España
  • Plaza de La Feria
  • Plaza de Las Ranas
  • Plaza Santa Ana
  • Triana

[edit] Other

The Cathedral on the Isle, Gran Canaria, in the capital city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, within the Canary Islands.
  • Castillo de la Luz
  • Centro de Teatro Insular
  • CICCA
  • El WOMAD
  • Fiestas de San Juan
  • Gabinete Literario
  • Gala Drag Queen
  • International Film Festival
  • International Theater and Dance Festival
  • Museo CAAM Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno
  • Museo Canario
  • Museo Casa Colón
  • Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia
  • Museo Nestor
  • Paseo Playa de Las Canteras
  • Teatro Pérez Gáldos
  • Teatro Cuyas
  • Triana

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Roads and highways

Road in the city

Las Palmas, being the centre of the Las Palmas metropolitan area, is the logical hub for the island's motorway network. The city is linked with three superhighways including the GC-1 to the south, the GC-2 to the west and GC-3 to the center of the island.

The GC-1 is a superhighway (or motorway) on the island of Gran Canaria. It links the capital Las Palmas in the north with Puerto Rico in the south. It is the fastest route from the top of the island to the bottom and vice versa with a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph). It is approximately 75 km (47 miles in length) and runs along the eastern and the southern coasts of this circular island and is also the second longest superhighway in the Canary Islands. The road provides easy access from the airport to the major cities and resorts. The resorts include Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés. The increase in tourism over the years has seen the GC1 route slowly being upgraded and widened to cope with extra traffic. The GC-1 begins south of the downtown area of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the superhighway runs within the beach of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and 2 km south intersects with the GC-2 and later runs with a few clover leaf interchanges and later forms a junction with GC-5 and south, the GC-31. The GC-2 North Highway in Gran Canaria. Connects Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the north little port and village of Agaete. The eastern portion for about 20 km is a superhighway with interchange numbers, the rest of the highway is a two-lane highway, the western part is like a freeway but only two-lanes because it has exit numbers. The superhighway begins by the beach area of the island or the Canary Islands' co-capital with the highway GC-1. The highway runs through the downtown area and links with a roundabout interchange with GC31. The freeway runs within the beaches and the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean for the half part but at around the 20th km, it becomes a highway after the unidirectional parclo interchanges and runs within the coastline, it later has several interchanges and several towns as it passes to the northwest and finally, it ends in Agaete.

[edit] Airport

Las Palmas is served by Gran Canaria Airport (IATA: LPAICAO: GCLP). In 2008, it handled 10,212,106 passengers[16], making it the busiest airport in the Canary Islands and the fifth busiest in Spain. Airport serve 33,695,248 kg of cargo, in this regard it's fourth busiest in Spain. It is also the only airport on the islands with two runways, allowing it to have up to 53 landings and take-offs per hour. The Airport is located to the east of Gran Canaria on the Bay of Gando (Bahía de Gando), about 18 km (11 mi) from the city.

There is an airbase of the Spanish Air Force to the east of the runways. Beyond several hangars opposite to the passenger terminal, the airbase contains ten shelters situated on the southern end of the eastern runway. They harbor F/A-18 Hornets of the Ala 46 fighter squadron, which defends the Spanish airspace around the Canary Islands.

[edit] Seaport

View of the Puerto de Las Palmas

Puerto de Las Palmas, also known as Puerto de la Luz, or Puerto de la Luz and the Las Palmas is a port of fishing, commercial, passenger and sports in the north-west of the city. For five centuries, the Port of Las Palmas is the traditional basis of scale and supplying ships on their way through the Middle Atlantic. The Port of Las Palmas is not only the first port of the Canary Islands, but also the first port in the Mid-Atlantic, the most traffic at the crossroads between Europe, Africa and America. In turn, constitutes one of the main ports of Spain and the first of the geographical area of West Africa. The port in 2007 earned a total of 907,782 passengers a 16.26% more than in 2006, and the growing cruise passenger traffic in a 21.23%. In 2007 he received some 11,262 ships. Regarding annual TEUs the port of Las Palmas has the 5th position of Spain, resulting in year 2007 1,449,773 placed among the first 15 ports of Europe.

The Port of Las Palmas is the first Mid-Atlantic fishing base, with an annual traffic of more than 4,500 scales and with some 400,000 tonnes of frozen fish manipulated. Despite having experienced some decline in recent years, the Port of Las Palmas retains its dominance in the fishery landed over other ports in the Canary Islands. In the port provides 175,000 cubic meters of cold storage facilities at the foot of pier, parks special refrigerated containers supported by Trastainer and room preparation of frozen products. Within these facilities, have a great importance of the wide variety of refrigeration present, which can carry out all activities necessary for postprocessing and conservation of fish, from refrigeration and storage of the product at low temperatures for subsequent distribution, to manufacture and supply of industrial ice. In the port's facilities include a border inspection post (BIP) approved by the European Union, which is responsible for inspecting all types of imports from third countries or exports to countries outside the European Economic Area.

[edit] Public transportation

Guaguas Municipales

Municipal Bus Lines (Spanish: Guaguas Municipales) offers 40 urban transport, covering both the bottom and the top of the city. The main lines are the 1 (Theater - Port), 2 (Alameda de Colón - Port), 12 (Port - Hoya de la Plata) and 30 (Alameda de Colón - Santa Catalina, by Rehoyas). In addition, two circular lines (0A: Santa Catalina - Santa Catalina, by Alcaraveneras) and 0B (Santa Catalina - Santa Catalina, by City High).

Global, inter-hire company, has 119 lines, many to or from the capital. This company emerged in 2000, resulting from the merger of the previous Salcai and interurban lines Utinsa.

There is also the Guagua Turística, which covers the most interesting sites of the city with a guide in several languages.

El Tren de Gran Canaria (TG) is a rail project initially proposed as an alternative to get from Las Palmas and Maspalomas[17] but was later raised to Agaete extension.

Another project is the Tramway Palmas (Gran Canaria), which recorrería the lower town in the same way that currently is done by the bus line 1, with an average frequency of 5 minutes and a journey time of 35 minutes.

[edit] Sports

Las Palmas is home to three major professional sports teams. These include:

Las Palmas will be one of the arenas of 2014 FIBA World Championship. Matches will be played in the new arena - Palacio de Deportes de Las Palmas with a capacity of about 10,000.

In city and neighbourhood, you can engage in many sports, for example: surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming, diving, skydiving, paragliding, running, cycling, rowing, tennis and golf (mainly in Las Palmeras Golf, Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas, El Cortijo Club de Campo and Oasis Golf). Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas is the oldest golf club in Spain. It was inaugurated on 17 December 1891[18].

[edit] Hotels

Hotel AC Gran Canaria
  • Santa Catalina 5*
  • Meliá Las Palmas 5*
  • AC Gran Canaria 4*
  • NH Playa de Las Canteras 4*
  • NH Imperial Playa 4*
  • Best Western Cantur 4*
  • Concorde 4*
  • Fataga 4*
  • Reina Isabel 4*
  • Tryp Iberia 4*
  • Sansofe Palace 4*
  • Astoria 3*
  • Hotel Playa Las Canteras 3*
  • Atlanta 3*
  • Igramar Canteras 3*
  • Faycan 3*
  • Parque 3*
  • Tenesoya CB 3*
  • Verol 3*
  • Alba 2*
  • Olympia 2*
  • Pujol 2*
  • Valencia 2*

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Sisters cities

[edit] Notable natives and residents

[edit] External links

Find more about Las Palmas on Wikipedia's sister projects:
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Learning resources from Wikiversity

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria travel guide from Wikitravel

[edit] References

  1. ^ Demographia: World Urban Areas
  2. ^ Eurostat - Urban Audit
  3. ^ European Spatial Planning Observation Network - Study on Urban Functions: Final Report, ISBN 2-9600467-2-2
  4. ^ Conurbaciones
  5. ^ "Gran Canaria Weather – The best climate in the world". http://www.monteleon-grancanaria.com/gran-canaria-weather.asp. Retrieved on 29 November 2008. 
  6. ^ según el propio ayuntamiento
  7. ^ www.grancanaria.com - Geographical information
  8. ^ Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain) - Datos Poblacionales del término municipal de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Avance del Padrón Municipal. Datos provisionales. [1], 1 January 2007
  9. ^ Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Las Palmas, Canary Islands
  10. ^ "Weather2Travel.com: Las Palmas Climate Guide". http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/index.php?destination=las-palmas. 
  11. ^ "World Meteorological Organization: Weather Information for Las Palmas". http://www.worldweather.org/083/c01234.htm. 
  12. ^ "Gran Canaria Weather – The best climate in the world". http://www.monteleon-grancanaria.com/gran-canaria-weather.asp. Retrieved on 29 November 2008. 
  13. ^ según el propio ayuntamiento
  14. ^ www.grancanaria.com - Geographical information
  15. ^ "Weather Information for Las Palmas". http://www.worldweather.org/083/c01234.htm. 
  16. ^ AENA passenger and aircraft movements for 2008
  17. ^ El tren de Gran Canaria pasará de la capital al sur de Gran Canaria
  18. ^ Official page of Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas
  19. ^ Las Palmas Gran Canaria y Rabat, hermanadas para promover desarrollo social
  20. ^ El Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria se hermana con Praia
North: Atlantic Ocean
West: Arucas Las Palmas de Gran Canaria East: Atlantic Ocean
South: Santa Brígida and Telde
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