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Natural Monuments
Monumento Natural de La Montaña de Guaza
Description
This formidable volcanic cone, together with its lava flows – known as Las Mesas de Guaza – dominates the coastal landscape in the south-western tip of Tenerife.
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
Geology
It stands next to Los Cristianos and its cliffs, up to 100 metres high, are a haven of biodiversity in the midst of the island’s tourism hotspot.
In spite of the intense exploitation of Guaza since pre-Hispanic times for grazing, the extraction of flagstone and agriculture, this Natural Monument still conserves fauna and flora of considerable interest for the Canary Islands, which adds to its scenic and geomorphological value.
Flora and fauna
Much of the original vegetation has disappeared, mainly due to livestock grazing. However, certain areas still retain their natural flora, mainly tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera) and cardón or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis).
Large areas of abandoned farming terraces on Las Mesas de Guaza are now covered in tabaiba amarga (Euphorbia lamarckii) along with aulaga (Launaea arborescens), ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) and various herbaceous plants.
And fortunately, the most inaccessible parts still retain healthy populations of endangered species, such as dama de Tenerife (Parolinia intermedia) or zanahoria canaria de arena (Ammodaucus nanocarpus), an endemic species with a very limited range in Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
Other species that grow here and are included in the Catalogue of Threatened Species of the Canary Islands are viborina triste (Echium triste ssp. nivariense), milengrana tinerfeña (Herniaria canariensis) and mato de costa (Gymnocarpus decandrus).
As far as fauna is concerned, Guaza is the refuge of one of the most endangered species in the archipelago: the Tenerife speckled lizard. It is here that you can find the largest of the only two populations known on the island. In fact, approximately two thirds of the entire population live in the area around the cliffs, safe from introduced predators such as cats and rats.
The importance of these cliffs does not end there, as they are also breeding grounds for Scopoli’s shearwater, Bulwer’s petrel and Tenerife’s largest colony of yellow-legged gulls.
In addition, this cliff is a resting and feeding area for the common tern, osprey, little egret and grey heron.
The plateau atop the Natural Monument is also important for birdlife, as it serves as a habitat for steppe species in clear decline or on the verge of disappearing on the island, such as the stone-curlew and the almost locally extinct trumpeter finch, the last remaining specimens of which can be found here on the island.
Notable among the invertebrates is the pimelia tinerfeña costera, a beetle endemic to the island that is found in significant numbers in Guaza.
Technical information sheet
Surface area
725.7 ha. (0.4% of the island)
Species of interest
Tabaiba amarga (Euphorbia lamarckii), tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera), cardón or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), aulaga (Launaea arborescens), ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), dama de Tenerife (Parolinia intermedia), zanahoria canaria de arena (Ammodaucus nanocarpus), viborina triste (Echium triste ssp. nivariense), milengrana tinerfeña (Herniaria canariensis), mato de costa (Gymnocarpus decandrus), Tenerife speckled lizard, Scopoli’s shearwater, Bulwer’s petrel, yellow-legged gull, common tern, osprey, little egret, grey heron, stone-curlew, trumpeter finch, pimelia tinerfeña costera.
Ecosystems
Tabaibal-cardonal, rocky habitat, thermophilic.
Places of interest
Llanos de las Mesas de Guaza, Barranco del Bocinegro, Malpaises de los Llanos de Guaza.
Regulations
To consult permits for use and updated regulations for this Protected Natural Area, visit the official website of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Municipalities
- Arona