Gran Canaria

28°00N 15°35W; area 1532 km²/591 sq mi. Volcanic Atlantic island in the Canary Is; highest point, Pozo de las Nieves (1980 m/6496 ft); steep cliffs in N and W; wide beaches in S, with tourist facilities; chief town, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; sugar cane, distilling, tobacco, chemicals, light engineering; airport on the E coast.

Gran Canaria, rarely Grand Canary (archaic), is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain.

It is divided into twenty-one municipalities:

The island has a population of 802,257 with 378,628 (year 2005) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the biggest city of Canary Islands, also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the two capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, along Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life and the beach Las Canteras is located in the heart of the city.

Other attractions include Banana Park, Roque Nublo (an 80m monolith), Cenebio de Valerón with about 290 caves, Cueva Pintada the most important archaeological park in Canary Islands and the botanical garden Jardin Canario in Tafira Alta. El Dedo de Dios, or "God's Finger" was a rocky spire jutting from the sea in Puerto de las Nieves, and was previously the signature attraction of the Canary Islands. With its numerous off shore, underwater attractions the south of the island, Dive Academy is the place to experience scuba diving where the full beauty of the island can be appreciated