Are the Canary Islands closer to Spain or Morocco?

The Canary Islands archipelago is a string of seven islands, closer to Morocco than to their mother country Spain. The islands are home to more than 2 million people, and their main trade is tourism.



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The Canary Archipelago is far closer to Africa than Spain. If you look at the Canary Islands travel info, you might be surprised by just how close the Canary Islands are to the African mainland. They sit on the African tectonic plate.

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The Cape Verde Islands (to the south-west), the Azores (to the north-west) and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco (to the north-east, peak ~ 3600 m) are all too far away (1500, 1500 and 900 km respectively) to be visible from any of the Canary Islands.

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It was the last of the Canary Islands to fall to Spain in 1496 and subsequently became an important trading centre. Although part of the European Union, the Canary Islands are physically closer to Africa, with Tenerife lying just 300km off the coast of Morocco.

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Lanzarote. Lanzarote tends to be the hottest and most arid of the Canaries, as it is closest to the Sahara desert and because it is one of the lowest lying islands. The Sahara can bring high temperatures and fine sand to Lanzarote, causing occasional heatwaves.

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Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, a volcanic archipelago scattered off the southwest coast of Morocco, closer to Africa than Spain in terms of climate, although decidedly Spanish in culture.

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Between 1420 and 1479 a Portuguese force subdued Gomera. In 1479 the Treaty of Alcáçovas recognized Spanish sovereignty over the Canaries, and the conquest of the remaining islands was completed in 1496.

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10 Best Towns and Resorts in the Canary Islands
  • Costa Teguise, Lanzarote.
  • Betancuria, Fuerteventura.
  • Los Llanos, La Palma.
  • Teror, Gran Canaria.
  • Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
  • Playa de la Arena, Tenerife.
  • Arrieta, Lanzarote.
  • Puerto del Rosario, Fuertaventura.


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Tenerife South (TFS) is often used by tourists closer to the sunny resorts south of the island. Tenerife is the easiest island to reach for US visitors, with United Airlines launching a nonstop flight from Newark (EWR) to Tenerife South (TFS) starting June 9, 2022.

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