NATURAL AND CULTURAL VALUES
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GEOLOGICAL VALUES In the heart of the volcanoes, Tenerife was born and in San Blas, the island joined the sea. These are the two ends of the path covered by the lava flows during the formation of the island. In the San Blas Environmental Reserve, you can discover a natural setting of extraordinary beauty, where a volcanic cloud at a temperature of almost 400º C travelling at over 100km/h kissed the ocean. Its legacy was the soft, yellow ignimbrites and the hard, dark basalts, the prevailing rocks of this region. |
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BOTANIC VALUES The value of the vegetation communities of San Blas lie both in the singularity of the many endemic species and in their ornamental beauty. The most emblematic communities are the sweet spurges, accompanied by species that are adapted to the high salt content of the air; musk thistle, which act as a refuge for other smaller species like the Canary madder and wolfbane; and the balo, which can draw on deep subterranean water thanks to its highly developed long roots. |
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FAUNA VALUES There are endemic species of both vertebrates and invertebrates like the Canary Island chiffchaff, the Canary Island lizard, the gecko or the horned thistle beetle. The fact that there is a reservoir with permanent water attracts migratory birds like the common sandpiper and the grey heron. The vertical walls of the gorges are ideal for birds of prey like the kestrel to build their nests. |
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ARCHAELOGICAL AND ETNOGRAPHIC VALUES At certain times in history, human beings found in San Blas the resources they needed to survive. First it was the Guanches and, after the Island was conquered by the Kingdom of Castile in the 15th century, the herdsmen and farmers found fresh grazing in San Blas and land to grow cereals on, and farming reached its peak in the 20the century with tomatoes as the main crop. |
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MARINE ENVIRONMENT Studies conducted on the sea beds of San Blas revealed the presence of sea grass meadows, made up of species that are highly sensitive to any change in their habitat and which find ideal conditions here to thrive. The diversity of the marine life is significant, with lovely specimens like fire worms, green turtles and scorpion fish, among many, many others. |
