If you’re brave enough to hike the tallest mountain of Spain, don’t forget to book a permit to have access to the top. You can apply

Note also that, as already presented in the weekly news #7, you make most of the hike using the cable car, still you will have to hike the last 163m. You can find also on a list of the different trails starting from the top of the cable car (called “La Rambleta”).

One easy way to have access to the top of Spain (Image from Jez Page @ FlickR)

From : http://www.tenerife.es:

Legends say that when dragons die they become dragon trees, and it is obvious why this living fossil is one of the symbols of the Canary Islands, and maybe even the greatest treasure of Canarian flora. When one looks at its peculiar shape, it is also not surprising that the tree was considered a divine tree by the early inhabitants of the islands. Until recently, Dracaena draco was considered to be native to Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde; however, it has now also been found in wild populations in Morocco.

The islands are home to a number of impressive dragon trees. The great explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt was greatly impressed when in the Franchy Gardens he saw before him a giant 25-metre high dragon tree with a 23-metre circumference, although there has been disagreement regarding these measurements. This tree, unfortunately, disappeared following strong winds in 1867. Today, the largest and most famous dragon tree, which has a diameter of 20 metres at the base and is 17 metres high, stands majestically in Icod de Los Vinos (Tenerife), 100km from the workshop hotel. It weighs approximately 150 tonnes not including the roots. There has been much debate over the age of the tree, and some say it may be over 5000 years old; however, recent estimates suggest that the tree is no more than 800 to 1000 years old.

In 1985, the tree was fully cleaned up and a ventilator was placed inside the trunk to facilitate air circulation and prevent a build-up of fungus. In 1993, the Town Hall of Icod de los Vinos made a deviation in a road that passed just a few metres by the dragon tree, and now, fortunately, this iconic tree is no longer in obvious danger.

Dracaena draco - source Wikimedia Commons.

Now that you know pretty much everything about the scientific aspects of the conference, the next posts will present a few extra possible activities offered by the fantastic location of Tenerife. We start this series with the Anaga Country Park.

(sources: http://www.tenerife.es , )

The Anaga Country Park is a mountainous massif situated in the far northeast of the island. It is an area of significant value, not only for its landscape but also in natural and cultural terms, given the biodiversity of the habitats it houses, the many endangered and protected species that live in its relict forests and the fascinating geomorphological forms that are found there. Moreover, the park is also home to a number of rural settlements whose agricultural activities have bestowed an extraordinary beauty and harmony upon the landscape.

Anaga has an interesting network of roads and paths leading to stunning panoramic views and spectacular natural spots either by car, bus or walking. You will also come across many picturesque farmhouses where you can stop to experience the local way of life.

One of the numerous views from there.