Gomera

Area: 378 sq.km/146 sq.mi

Population: 20,000

Gomera, lying 30km/19mi west of Tenerife, is the second smallest of the Canary Islands (after Hierro). It has long been a favorite haunt of devotees of the "alternative" culture, but many holidaymakers on Tenerife also take a day trip from there to see something of Gomera.

Topography

The island is ringed by bare cliffs up to 900m/2,950ft high, with only a few coves and beaches of black sand to vary the scenery. The lush interior of the island is cut by deep gorges (barrancos) many of which open up into wider valleys in their lower reaches. Here and in the higher regions of the island, which rises to 1,487m/4,879ft in Mt Garajonay, are scattered villages and hamlets.