Fuerteventura () is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, geographically part of Macaronesia, and politically part of Spain. It is located away from the coast of North Africa. The island was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009.
Fuerteventura belongs to the Province of Las Palmas, one of the two provinces that form the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. The island's capital is Puerto del Rosario, where the Insule Council (the government of the island) is found. Fuerteventura had 131,502 inhabitants (), the fourth largest population of the Canary Islands and the third of the province. At , it is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife. From a geological point of view, Fuerteventura is the oldest island in the archipelago.
Toponymy The island's current name is a compound formed by the Spanish words ("strong" or "fort") and ("fortune"). Traditionally, Fuerteventura's name has incorrectly thought to have been a reference to the strong winds () around the island coastline, and the resulting danger to nautical adventurers. However, it might have referred instead, or also, to wealth, luck or destiny.
In 1339 the Mallorcan navigator Angelino Dulcert, in the Planisferio de Angelino Dulcert, referred to the island as "Forte Ventura".
Another theory is that the island's name derives from "" (Fortunate Islands), the name by which the Romans knew the Canary Islands. According to Pliny, the island was originally known as , in reference to the flatness of most of its terrain.
The indigenous Guanche name of the island, before its conquest in the 15th century, was . It was divided into two regions ( and ), from which the Canarian Spanish name (originally or ) derives. However, it has been suggested that, at some point, Maxorata (which meant "the children of the country") was the aboriginal toponym of the entire island.
History
Precolonial history
The first settlers of Fuerteventura are believed to have come from North Africa. The word () or is still used today to describe the people of Fuerteventura and is derived from the Guanche word , a type of goatskin shoe worn by these original inhabitants. They lived in caves and semi-subterranean dwellings, some of which have been excavated, revealing remnants of early tools and pottery.
Phoenician settlers may have landed in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote; however, there is no unambiguous evidence for this.
At the time of the Iberian conquest, the island was divided into two Guanche kingdoms, one ruled by King Guize and the other by King Ayoze. The territories of these kingdoms were called Maxorata (in the north) and Jandía (in the south) respectively. They were separated by a wall, which traversed the La Pared isthmus. Some remains have been preserved. The ancient name for the island, Erbania, is derived from this wall's name.
Conquest Several Spanish and Portuguese expeditions to the islands were organized around 1340, followed by Moors and European slave traders.
The island's official conquest began in earnest in 1402, commanded by French knights and crusaders Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de la Salle. As told by La Canarien, a chronicle of the conquest of the islands, they arrived with only 63 sailors out of the original 283, as many had deserted along the way. After arriving and settling in Lanzarote, the invaders made some first excursions to the neighboring islands. In 1404, de Bethencourt and de Gadifer founded Betancuria, on the west coast, the first settlement on the island. After numerous difficulties, de Gadifer took charge of the invasion, while de Bethencourt returned to Spain to seek the recognition and support of the Castilian king.
In 1405, de Béthencourt completed his conquest of the island, establishing its capital in Betancuria. At this point, it had about 1,200 inhabitants. The population increased gradually thereafter.
In 1424, Pope Martin V, through the Betancuria Brief, issued an edict establishing the Bishopric of Fuerteventura, which encompassed all the Canary Islands, save for the island of Lanzarote. The origin of this bishopric is directly related to the events that occurred after the Great Schism (1378–1417): the bishop of San Marcial del Rubicón of Lanzarote (at the time, the only diocese in the Canary Islands) did not recognize the papacy of Martin V, and instead adhered to the anti-Pope Benedict XIII. The Bishopric of Fuerteventura was, thus, based in the Parish of Santa María de Betancuria, bestowing upon the latter the status of Cathedral. After the reabsorption of the Diocese of San Marcial del Rubicón by the papacy of Pope Martin V, the Bishopric of Fuerteventura was abolished in 1431, only seven years after it was created.
In 1476, the territory became the , subjected to the Catholic Monarchs.Se reconoce al conquistador su dominio sobre la isla. Fuente: Ayuntamiento de Tuineje. In later years, the island was invaded by the Spanish, French and the English.
Second conquest of Fuerteventura Over time, the island endured numerous raids. A Berber-led expedition invaded in 1593, sweeping as far inland as the capital. Various castles were built along the coastline, to protect against these types of attacks. The population was moved inland as a second protective measure. Because of the raids, a first Captain General was dispatched to Fuerteventura, accompanied by a number of Sergeants Major, in order to defend the island in the name of the Crown. At that time, Betancuria became the religious capital of the island. The island's garrison was officially instated in 1708. Its colonel assumed the title of Governor at Arms, a hereditary, lifelong appointment which has remained in the Sánchez-Dumpiérrez family. In time, this family increasingly garnered power over the other islands through alliances with the Arias de Saavedra family and the Lady of Fuerteventura. During the same year, the Auxiliary Parish of La Oliva and Pájara was created, which became operational in 1711.
After war broke out between Spain and the United Kingdom, two major attacks took place in 1740, within two months of each other. Two separate bands of English privateers attempted to loot the town of Tuineje, on 13 October and 24 November. These attacks were, however, successfully averted by the local population and the island's militia. This successful repelling of the invaders is celebrated at a re-enactment that takes place in Gran Tarajal every year in October.
1780 saw the start of the barrilla plantation industry.
On 17 December 1790, the Auxiliary Parish of Tuineje was created, which became a new parish division on 23 June 1792, under Bishop Tavira. This included part of the Jandía peninsula, and had a population of 1,670 inhabitants.
To the present In 1852, a free trade status was granted by Isabella II to the Canary Islands. This allowed the islands to become a major international trade hub, exempt from customs duties on imported and exported goods. Military island rule, which began in 1708, was finally dissolved in 1859, and Puerto de Cabras (now Puerto del Rosario) - the only municipal seat on the coast - became the new capital.
In 1912, the cabildo insular system was established, which allowed each island to establish its own government. Fuerteventura's was based in Puerto del Rosario. In 1927, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote became part of the province of Gran Canaria.
In 1941, began work on a military airfield, just west of Puerto del Rosario on the road to Tindaya, which opened to commercial use in 1950. The remains are still visible today. In 1956, the capital was renamed to Puerto del Rosario. Mass tourism started in the mid-1960s, facilitated by the construction of Fuerteventura Airport at El Matorral, inaugurated in 1969, and the first tourist hotels.
The island's proximity (a mere 100 km) to the West African coast and, the fact that it is part of the Schengen territory, make it a prime target destination for undocumented immigrants. However, many have perished while attempting the crossing.
Flag
The flag of Fuerteventura is in proportions 1:2, divided vertically, green to the hoist and white to the fly end, with the coat of arms of the island in the centre.
Coat of arms The coat of arms of Fuerteventura was prescribed by a decree adopted on 15 October 1998 by the Government of the Canary Islands, and published on 11 November 1998 in the official gazette of the Canary Islands. It was adopted on 24 April 1998 by the Island Council and validated on 18 September 1998 by the Heraldry Commission of the Canary Islands.
The heraldic description is "per pale and per fess. First, gules, a castle or, masoned sable, its gate and windows azure. Second, argent, lion gules, crowned, armed and langued or. Third, silver, three fesses chequy gules and or, in four rows, each one charged with a fess or. Bordure gules, with eight saltires or. Ensigned with a royal crown, open."
According to José Manuel Erbez, the coat of arms is based on the arms of the island's provincial militia. The upper quarters represent Castile (symbolized by a castle) and León (symbolized by a lion). The lower quarter alludes to the Saavedra family; various members of this family were lords of Fuerteventura.
Geography
Environment
The elongated island is long and wide. It has an area of .
Located just off the coast of North Africa, it is the second biggest of the islands, after Tenerife, and has the longest white sand beaches in the archipelago. The island is a destination for sun, beach and watersports enthusiasts. It lies at the same latitude as Florida and Mexico and temperatures rarely fall below or rise above . It counts 152 separate beaches along its seaboard, approximately — of which are white sand and of which are black volcanic shingle.
The highest point in Fuerteventura is Pico de la Zarza, standing at in the southwestern part of the island. Geographical features include Istmo de la Pared which is wide and is the narrowest part of Fuerteventura, and the Betancuria massif, in the center of the island, with a maximum elevation of . The island is divided into two parts: the northern portion is called Maxorata and the southwestern part is called the Jandía peninsula.
Approximately of the island is covered by 13 protected natural spaces, established by the Canarian Network of Protected Natural Spaces. This includes the lava-covered areas of Malpaís Grande and Chico, the place of scientific interest located on Jandía salt flat and Tindaya Mountain.
Climate Fuerteventura has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh). The climate is mild, but mostly windy, throughout the year. The island is hence referred to as "the island of eternal spring". The sea regulates air temperature, diverting hot Sahara winds away from the island, through the Canary Current. The island's name in English translates as "strong fortune" or "strong wind", the Spanish word for wind being viento. During the winter months, temperatures average a high of and a low of around , whereas during the summer a mean high of and a low of can be expected. Precipitation is about per year, most of which falls in autumn and winter. December is the month with highest rainfall.
A sandstorm known as the Calima (similar to the Sirocco wind, which blows to the North of the Sahara, to Europe) may blow from the Sahara Desert to the northwest, and can cause high temperatures, low visibility and drying air. Temperatures during this phenomenon rise temporarily by approximately 10 degrees Celsius. The wind brings in fine red dust. The fine white sand is not blown in from Sahara; it is made up of dead coral reef and local seabed upheaval. Visibility can drop to between or even lower and can even bring African locusts to the island.
Hydrology