Chapter 8 - The Geology of Fuerteventura

Abstract

Fuerteventura is the second-largest of the Canary Islands after Tenerife, and is close to Africa (94km). The abundance of beaches and the warm and sunny weather have made Fuerteventura one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the archipelago (approximately 2.5 million visitors in 2014). Because of its proximity to Africa and its low altitude (maximum elevation 807m), the island is extremely arid (average annual rainfall ~105mm). Although Fuerteventura and Lanzarote are separate islands at present, during considerable periods of geological time the islands were connected and formed a long, single, ridge-like land mass more than 220km long. Fuerteventura comprises no recent volcanic eruption, but instead offers a fascinating geological perspective unparalleled among the Canary Islands. It records the onset of island formation and the oldest exposed rocks in the archipelago through uplifted Mesozoic preisland sedimentary strata in the west of the island. Fuerteventura is not only the geologically oldest and most intensely eroded Canary island but also probably one of the best places in the world to inspect the initial stages of ocean island growth.