Fuerteventura, Biosphere Reserve

Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve, enchants every visitor with its natural places of wild and unspoiled landscapes, unique in the world.

Fuerteventura is located in the Canary Islands in Spain, about 120 km off the coast of Africa and is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The island’s surface area is 1,659.74 km², with approximately 127,000 inhabitants and the main cities of Fuerteventura are:

• Corralejo
• El Cotillo
• Puerto del Rosario
• Betancuria
• Caleta de Fuste
• Costa Calma
• Morro Jable 

Fuerteventura is home to unique species of flora and fauna and unique ecosystems that fill the wild landscapes with life.

The low altitude of the territory and the trade winds that prevail all year round prevent the clouds that cross the island from depositing the water they carry.

Since 2009, the entire island and the marine habitat surrounding it have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO , a protection that concerns only a few exceptional places on the planet.

The climate in Fuerteventura, mild and warm all year round, is an earthly paradise, deservedly named a Biosphere Reserve.

In Fuerteventura, the conservation of the natural environment and respect for cultural values ​​go hand in hand with human development and the society on which they are based.

 

Geology of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura, the oldest of the Canary Islands, approximately 23 million years old, preserves in the memory of its rocks a long and rich geological life .

The island tells its centuries-old history to anyone who wants to know it: the seductive landscapes where vast dunes join volcanoes, lava fields, massifs.

And the island of Fuerteventura, a Biosphere Reserve, offers so much more: breathtaking caves, immense paradisiacal beaches and rocky coasts, wide valleys or arid and vast plains.

All this actually speaks to the long geological journey that this island has experienced, where erosion has left a profound mark.

In this long history, where continuous erosion and landslides have caused the island to lose altitude, traces of that ancient past can be seen through the deposits of ocean sediments.

And the fossil remains of now-extinct marine animals , and lava flows from the oceanic crust, the oldest rocks in the archipelago, tell the story.

In this long geological journey, there is also time for new stories, such as the Volcán de la Arena in the north of the island, the youngest territory at only 10,000 years old.

 

The flora of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura’s flora and fauna have developed survival strategies to adapt to this seemingly deserted island. 

Although at first glance Fuerteventura may appear to be a desert with few life forms, approximately 2,670 forms of terrestrial flora are known on the island today . 

Of these, approximately 700 species are plants, 16 ferns and 122 lichens, 15 endemic species exclusive to the island of Fuerteventura.

These plants are adapted to the harsh living conditions of the island, where rainfall is scarce, days are windy and the hours of intense sunshine are very numerous.

The island, although at first glance it appears to have a homogeneous landscape, is made up of different types of environments that this place, a Biosphere Reserve, preserves.

The magical island, designated a Biosphere Reserve, preserves its most precious treasure in its numerous natural sites and its most beautiful beaches .

The fauna of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura’s fauna is so rich that it is home to the largest number of bird species in the entire Canary Islands.

A place of great scientific and conservation interest, with almost 300 rare species, in addition to significant contingents of migratory birds that frequent the island.

In short, an entire “ornithological heritage” of incalculable value of Fuerteventura, a Biosphere Reserve , to be preserved and protected for future generations.

The fauna of the Atlantic Ocean surrounding Fuerteventura is much more varied and richer than that of the Mediterranean Sea, with several dangerous marine species.

Among the many wonders that populate the island’s waters, the Blue Dragon stands out, one of the most interesting and mysterious beings of the deep ocean.

This extraordinary creature has captured the attention of marine biologists and snorkelers for its striking appearance and unique behavior.

 

The richness of the seabed

The richness of Fuerteventura’s seabed is internationally renowned, offering a truly spectacular spectacle.

An extraordinary diversity with 28 different species of dolphins and whales and in the waters of Fuerteventura you can find rare and little-known ocean species globally.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean represent a unique habitat, different from the rest of the Canary Islands for various reasons:

• Its geographical location near the nearby African coast
• Its depth and particular oceanographic conditions with colder waters
• Nutrient abundance and a larger coastal shelf 

The extraordinary beauty of the seabed in Fuerteventura cannot leave indifferent lovers of snorkeling , or whale and dolphin watching.

Sharks in the Canary Islands have found their habitat in the waters of the Atlantic and some of their species can be spotted while snorkeling or diving.

There are more than seven species of sharks in the Canary Islands , although considered dangerous, they are threatened and must be protected.

Fuerteventura is a magical island, where aridity and beauty intertwine to create wonderful and unique landscapes among its hidden gems.

 

The night sky of the Biosphere Reserve

In Fuerteventura, the renowned Starlight Reserve , you get the feeling of being closer to paradise when observing the spectacle that the night sky offers.

At dusk, the sky is bathed in starlight, offering a visual spectacle that only a few places in the world are privileged to share.

Without having to climb to high altitude, from any vantage point on the island you can see constellations typical of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

This is possible because the large tracts of uninhabited or sparsely populated territory contribute to the island having one of the clearest skies in the archipelago.

A Starlight Reserve has the function of preserving the quality of the night sky and the various associated values, be they cultural, scientific, astronomical, landscape or natural. 

Additionally, a Starlight Reserve has one or more core or exclusion zones where natural lighting conditions and night sky clarity remain intact.

However, you can admire the enchanting landscape of the starry sky from the most important panoramic points or, as the islanders call them, “ Miradors” such as:

• Sicasumbre Viewpoint
• Viewpoint of Morro Velosa
• Vallebron Viewpoint

As well as the most beautiful sunsets on its wonderful beaches from the north to the south of the island such as: Ajuy beach, Sotavento, Cofete, La Pared and all the beaches of El Cotillo.

But it’s hard to resist the charm of Fuerteventura when you accross Corralejo Dunes and Jandia Natural Park, places that leave you breathless.