The natural landscape "Malpaís of Güimar" situated in the SOUTHEAST Valley Güimar, belonging to the municipality of the same name.   This site covers an area of approximately 290 hectares.    And is a typical landscape Volcanic consisting of a cone of major proportions and a series of lava flows that have fluid into the sea, forming a "malpaís" typical of recent lava, colonized by a cardonal-tabaibal relatively well preserved.

.....  The materials that make up the malpaís are basaltic nature and younger than 10,000 years.  It should be noted the existence of small enclaves volcanic oldest who were not buried in subsequent eruptions such as the Mountain of the sea and Las morras cork.

..... . The big mountain "volcano", as it is popularly known, is the highest elevation, with a height of 276 m.  Above sea level.  This cone has been shaped by successive accumulations of pyroclasts of different sizes, from ashes to bomb volcanicas considerable.  In diameter and 50 m   Deep inside which formerly was cultivated.

.....  The mountain has a slight asymmetry because during the eruption, the wind caused more dominant deposit materials on the leeward side.

..... . The lava flows that led to Malpaís not emerged from the crater, but through cracks located at the base of the building volcanic, running on the preexisting material reaching the sea.  These fields coladas originated slag aspect chaotic and hardly practicable, to what is called malpaís, on the other hand, where the lavas were more fluid, originated large plates surfaces smooth or slightly lead large appearance.  Associated with the latter, there is an underground system of pipes volcanic, whose presence is revealed by the partial collapse of the roof that gives rise to the characteristic jameos.

.....  There is a vertical cave entry called "The cave deep" which originated possibly to blow a bubble of gas in the interior of a volcanic pipe, this is undoubtedly the most spectacular of the cave known in this spot because the others are small.

.....  There is also a strip of sand that covers part of malpaís and whose origin is in the beach Relief from where the sands are constantly dragged by the wind into the interior.

.....  The coast is cut and presents some coves with beaches silent and sometimes sand of organic origin.

.....  Due to the geographical situation, this natural area is affected by the prevailing winds, which come from the NE and that makes the mild temperatures prevail throughout the year, being the coldest month January ( 16/18 degrees C). And the warmest August (22/24 ° C).

.....  The rains are rare but occasionally strong but brief. ( 200l/.m2/año). (200l/.m2/año).

.....  Heat stroke is very high (2,500 hours / year) and the relative humidity is 70%, which is due to the proximity to the sea and the type of prevailing winds.

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The vegetation is obviously influenced by the weather and is a scrub adapted to the great shortage of sunshine and rain.   The components are the most representative cardones (Euphorbia canariensis) and tabaibas (Euphorbia balsamifera and euphorbia obtusifolia), accompanied by some 50 species of higher plants, also indicate the existence of lichens, mosses and ferns exccesivamente not studied.

..... The group invertebrates are better represented in the malpaís of Güimar can find several endemic species.   As for vertebrates, birds are the largest group, with about 15 species nesting, stressing the bird moro, the road, the boy owl. There are also some species of reptiles such as lizards, perenquenes smooth ....

.....  Mammals wandering in the area are introduced species and is the most abundant rabbit, there are cats, rats, hedgehogs .. . It should be stressed that the presence of rabbits has made, but this prohibited the hunting of these resulting in serious damage to the landscape.

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Over time the malpaís of Güimar has been used for various purposes, since before P. XV   of the Malpaís Güimar constituted an area of winter grazing, this is evidenced by the findings of remnants of Aboriginal culture, this continuous use today, albeit very modest, because only occasionally is spend some herd of goats .

.....  Until a few decades ago, the exploitation of tabaiba sweet (Euphorbia balsamifera) was a usual practice for the extraction of latex that used for waterproofing barrel, sealing carboys, to trap birds ... As proof of this are the scars that are in the trunks of tabaibas oldest.

.....  Moreover it is observed that there has been farming since, both at home and at the foot of the mountains as well as large on the periphery "of Güimar Malpaís" exist, but abandoned terraces, stone walls, wells, etc. atarjeas. que lo evidencian. It showed.

..... . The natural landscape "Malpaís of Güimar" is a place of great importance from the ecological point of view, because it is virtually the last enclave of these characteristics that remain on the island, which has done, Since 1,987 have been declared protected natural space and 1,989 establishing a board of the natural setting of Malpaís of Güimar and ordering the preparation of the master plan for the use and management.  destrozos. This fact creates a lot of discussion from the outset and which prohibits hunting, the practice of parachuting, the circulation of 4 x 4, etc.. This however is not the worst when compared to the terrible damage caused by the Industrial Park Güimar Valley, which had been built the phase I and II, and Phase III is paralysed because, among other things, would destroy the historical path where is the "Pilgrimage Relief" party extraordinarily popular, but in the recent years has opened a new controversy as the pilgrims up and down the mountain and largest cause great damage.

.....  By the above seems clear the need to comply with rules on the matter, which are not logical that others respect for our natural heritage.

Pilar Lite Otazo y Enrique Coello Castro