The Canary Islands - Europe or Africa?

[FREKI]

Hi guys - just curious what people think about the Canary Islands..

On one hand they technically are part of Africa, but on the other they are Spanish and almost souly visited by Europeans...



I visited some time ago - but I'm not sure if it counts as having visited Africa?


Let me know what you guys think - have people been there been to Africa.. or not?

[Hyperdanny]

been there on vacation many times...visited quite extensively Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

My answer would be:
Geographically : not really. Superficially it can resemble Africa, especially Morocco, but the climate (the Canarian micro-climate) is very different, much milder and above all very diverse . Both G.C. and Tenerife, for example, are green and rainy in the north and dry and sandy/rocky in the south.

Historically: yes. The native Canarian populations, the Guanche, were basically African tribes migrated via boats from the coast, but they were all but exterminated and/or assimilated by the Spaniards when they conquered the islands.

As for now: not at all. I think of the Canaries as half-Spanish (the pueblos inland, where the locals live) and half Northern-European (the coasts).
To me, there' s nothing remotely African anymore about them, unless you count the sand dunes...........

[AdamChobits]

I think it's gographically africa, politically Europe. Malvinas are Europe or South America geographically?

[Justme]

Of cause technically they are part of the African continent. But they are still part of Europe and the EU politically and culturally.

When I think of the Canary Islands I think of Europe.

I guess it's a bit like Hawaii. It's not part of North America, but usually get's "bundled" in with it because it's part of the US.

[ALYSKANDER]

You have been in Africa...and in Spain too.

[Bradomín]

Of Course Canary Islands are Spain and Europe, no doubt about it.
and the same with Ceuta, Melilla, chafarine Islands, etc. they're spanish and european.

[Maxx☢Power]

Geographically, probably Africa, just like Sicily, Corsica, Britain and Ireland are European. Politically, culturally and everything else they're European.

[Booze]

Geographically Africa, except for that they're 100% European. And they are not that far away, so it's not like the Polinesia for instance.

[R@ptor]

Geographically they are in Africa no doubt about it whatsoever.

[Xusein]

It's in Africa. If not...well then, Hawaii is North American.

Geography trumps culture.

[FREKI]

^So having been there means having been to Africa?

[Xusein]

Guess so.

[serfin]

Geographically they're in Africa, i think that i haven't doubt about this, but culturally i believe that they're a mix between european and southamerican, repeat culturally.

[ALYSKANDER]

¿Southamerican? I don´t think so.

[LT1550]

They are on the tectonical plate of Africa, so they are Spanisch territory in Africa - just like St. Pierre and Miquelon is French territory in North America. There are lots of examples.
The Canary Islands are also located nearer to Africa (~200 km) than to Europe (~1000 km). But yes, politically they are definetly European, just like the French examples in America show.

[Purple Dreams]

Originally Posted by FREKI

^So having been there means having been to Africa?

I met someone from Finland once who told me they had been to Africa. When i asked them where, they said Canary ISlands.
Technically of course that's correct but..

[Bluesence]

Canary Islands are in Africa, just like Madeira island, though they belong to europeen nations.

[Xusein]

Are Guadeloupe and Martinique European too? How about the British Virgin Islands?

Sorry, but you can't change geography.

[ChrisZwolle]

Geographically African, but politically and maybe culturally European. (I've never been there, so i can't really tell about the last one).

[Geborgenheit]

I would say, it's Europe. Geographical distance doesn't matter in the 21st century.