Fuerteventura

Area: 1,731 sq.km/668 sq.mi

Population: 30,000

Fuerteventura differs from the other islands in possessing many miles of sandy beaches, still almost empty. It is an ideal place for holidaymakers who want to spend as much time as possible on the beach and are content with the facilities for water sports and the entertainments available in the hotels.

Topography

Fuerteventura is the largest of the Canary Islands after Tenerife, extending for more than 110km/68mi from southwest to northeast and measuring 30km/19mi across at its widest point. The center of the island is occupied by a plateau averaging 300m/1,000ft in height, bounded on its east and west sides by low ranges of hills. The hilly terrain has a barren and almost desolate air, the only variety being provided by the coloring of the rocks, which shimmer in various shades of brown and gray. Few visitors would be attracted to Fuerteventura were it not for the beautiful long sandy beaches in the north and south of the island. The beaches in between are smaller, with black sand.