From 1730 to 1736, the island was hit by a series of volcanic eruptions, producing 32 new volcanoes in a stretch of 18 kilometres. Lava covered a quarter of the island’s surface, including the most fertile soil and 11 villages. Until then, Lanzarote was the main exporter of wheat and cereals to the central islands of the archipelago.
We drove past Mancha Blanca through lava fields to the coast at Tenesar, where a group of white houses defy the wind at the coast. The breakers along the coast were impressive, but the wind chased us inland again.
The volcanoes and lava fields in the area of the last eruptions were diverse and fascinating. At this time of the year, the green of the plants added another colour to the landscape, making it for sure more pleasant than during the drier months.
One of the outstanding volcanoes was Caldera Colorada with its red flank. We had noticed it already on our way through the wine area and decided to go on a hike around it. It was formed by the last eruption in 1736.
There is a parking just off the road and a good path around the volcano, dotted with information boards in 3 languages.
The Caldera Colorada is one of the few with a complete circle, most have the form of a horseshoe instead. On one side, the area where lava had spilt over the edge of the caldera was clearly visible.
There are 180 different species of lichen-forming fungi, which survive on the wind facing side of the rocks, where they receive at least a bit of humidity. Lichen are the first to settle on the lava and promote weathering.
The weather might look fine on the pictures, but the strong, cold wind was a pain, at least for my sensitive facial nerves.
Tomorrow we want to visit the centre of the volcano landscape around Timanfaya. We didn’t manage to book the visit online, as it was sold out for days, but we will try anyway.