La Palma Island

La Palma (also called San Miguel de La Palma after the Spanish conquest of the Canaries) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the Canary archipelago.

The island is shaped like a triangle, with a sharp apex directed to the south. The coastline is smooth and there are no enclosed bays providing safe anchorage for yachts. The island has two marinas.

The island's capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma, is located in the middle of the east coast. Here is also the island's main port and one of the yacht marinas. A second port and marina are located in the middle of the west coast near the town of Tazacorte.

Palma is one of the highest islands in the world in relation to its area. The island's highest peak, Roque de Los Muchachos, reaches 2,426 meters above sea level. In the northern part is the world's largest erosional crater, the Caldera de Taburiente, which was declared a National Nature Park in 1954. From the center of the island to its southernmost part runs a chain of volcanoes, of which the last volcano to erupt was Teneguia (Teneguia) in 1971. About 35% of Palma's land area is covered with pine and laurel forests, making the island the greenest of the Canary Islands.

Palma has an airport linking it with the other islands of the Canary archipelago. It is located 4 km south of the island's capital.