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San Cristóbal de La Laguna

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San Cristóbal de La Laguna
Map
Statistics
Autonomous region: Canary Islands
Province: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Island: Tenerife
Area: 102.06 km²
some reads 102.69 km²
Population: 137,314 (2004)
Population density: 1,345.42/km²
Elevation: Atlantic Ocean
546 m
980 m (Pico del Inglés)
Length of coastline: 28.24 km
Postal code: E-38200
Location: 28.4667/28°28' N lat.
16.31667/16°19' W long.
Municipal code: E-38023
Car designation: TF
Name of inhabitants: Laguneros
Website: www.aytolalaguna.com
Politics
Mayor: Ana María Oramas González-Moro (CC)
2nd term
San Cristóbal de La Laguna
UNESCO World Heritage Site
La Laguna
CriteriaCultural: ii, iv
Reference929
Inscription1999 (23rd Session)
Panorama

San Cristóbal de La Laguna (La Laguna for short, Spanish for "The Lagoon") is a municipality of the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, on the Canary Islands. It is in the northern part of the Tenerife island. The city is also a suburban area of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

It is home to the University of La Laguna which is home to 30,000 students; these are not included in the population figures for the city.

Its economy is business-oriented while agriculture dominates the northeastern portion of the city. The urban area dominates the central and the southern parts. Tourism covers the northern coast. The main industry includes some manufacturing. The industrial area is made up of the main subdivisions of Majuelos, Las Torres de Taco, Las Mantecas and Las Chumberas.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted by Queen Juana of Castile on 23 march 1510, as arms of the island of Tenerife. The town of La Laguna, being the capital of the island during the first times after the Conquest, adopted this emblem as its own. It features an island with a volcano spitting fire, on waves, between a castle and a lion, and above the Archangel Saint Michael, holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. In the border, the inscription Michael Arcangele Veni in Adjutorium Populo Dei Thenerife Me Fecit. These elements symbolize the incorporation of the island of Tenerife to the Crown of Castile and its evangelization under the patronage of Saint Michael.

Subdivisions

  • La Verdellada
  • Viña Nava
  • El Coromoto
  • San Benito
  • El Bronco
  • La Cuesta
  • Taco
  • Tejina
  • Valleguerra
  • Bajamar
  • Punta del Hidalgo
  • Geneto
  • Los Baldios
  • Guamasa
  • El Ortigal
  • Las Mercedes
  • El Batan
  • Las Carboneras
  • San Diego
  • Las Gavias

History

The city was founded between 1496 and 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo and was the capital of the island after the conclusion of the conquest of the islands. The coastal area was later raided by pirates. The University of La Laguna was founded in 1701.

A declining population and economy in the 18th century resulted in the moving of the capital to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1723. Santa Cruz has since been the capital of the island of Tenerife.

The Tenerife North Airport at Los Rodeos was opened in the 1930s and is today expanding with low cost airlines using it.

It was declared a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999 and several streets of historical significance have been closed off to automobile traffic.

Historical population

Year Population Change
March 1, 1991 110,895 -
May 1, 1996 121.769 -
November 1, 2001 128,822 1,262.96/km²
2002 135,004 -
2003 134,004 -
2004 137,314 1,337.17/km²

Folklores

La Laguna is home to some of the best folklore in the Canary Islands, and the most famous folklorists are Los Sabandeños. La Laguna has created 59 folklore groups in and around La Laguna.

People

Places


See also

Template:Commons2

North: Atlantic Ocean
West: Atlantic Ocean San Cristóbal de La Laguna East: Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Southwest: Tacoronte South: El Rosario
The municipality surrounds Tegueste