The Guayadeque ravine, in Spanish ''Barranco de Guayadeque'', is a ravine-type valley located on the Spanish municipalities of Ingenio and

Agüimes Agüimes is a Spanish town and municipality in the eastern part of the island of Gran Canaria in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands. Presentation Agüimes is situated 5 km from the coast, and 26 km south of the island ca ...

, in the province of Las Palmas on

Grand Canary Gran Canaria (, ; ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa which is part of Spain. the island had a population of that ...

island, off the coast of Morocco. One of the largest ravines on the archipelago, it is notable for its archaeological remains and for its valuable endemic species of flora and fauna – the latter including one of the largest lizard species. It is also notable for the large quantity of

cave house Underground living refers to living below the ground's surface, whether in natural or manmade caves or structures. Underground dwellings are an alternative to above-ground dwellings for some home seekers, including those who are looking to min ...

s, including a hermitage and various restaurants dug into the rock.

Description

Located in the south-eastern quarter of Gran Canaria island, the valley starts at the ''Las Marteles'' crater (at around altitude)''Guayadeque, reserva de la tranquilidad''
("Guayadeque, peace reserve") on the site of the ''Unidad de Patrimonio Histórico del Cabildo de Gran Canaria''. and follows a N-W/S-E direction.Guayadeque valley
on Google maps. It separates the two Spanish municipalities of Ingenio and

, with Agüimes on the south side. The GC-103 road follows the bottom of the valley and the course of the Guayadeque stream, ending at Montaña de las Tierras where are cave-restaurants and cave-homes. On the way the road crosses Bermeja cave, a small settlement up the road from the visitors centre.''Barranco de Guayadeque''
on ''lonelyplanet.com''. Beyond Montaña de las Tierras is a footpath that goes up to the ''Las Marteles'' crater and then joins with the GC-130 road. The valley's sides present over and sometimes difference of altitude.Monument natural: Barranco de Guayadeque
Terraced areas for plantations are characteristic of the valley, where fig trees and almond trees are common. The area's relief was created by volcanic activity and by erosion.''Museo de sitio in Guayadeque''
On ''aguimes.net''. The soil substrate is made of basaltic rocks.

Etymology

''Guayadeque'', according to Ignacio Reyes, means "tranquil spirit" or "reserve of tranquillity" in pre-Hispanic local language.

Archaeological remains

The site used to be the most populated valley on the island and contains hundreds of caves. All the people who lived there have left many mummies and other burial remains in some caves, well guarded by the difficulty of access of the caves they were left in.Barranco de Guayadeque
on ''spain-grancanaria.com''. These caves include Labour cave ("Cueva Labra"), Numerous caves ("Cuevas Muchas"), Canary Cliff ("Risco del Canario"), Vincent Cliff ("Risco Vincentico"), Black Cliff ("Risco del Negro"), etc... The ravine is thus among the most important pre-historic burial ground of the island. The caves were then used as dwellings, food storage and for fertility rituals. Sometimes burial caves were re-used, in which cases special care was taken to protect the skulls with stonesIn ''Montaña de la Mina ( San Bartolomé,

Lanzarote Lanzarote (, , ) is a Spanish island, the easternmost of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located approximately off the north coast of Africa and from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering , Lanzarote is the fourth-largest of the i ...

), skulls protected with stones were found in the same circumstances as in Guayadeque valley. and, in Guayadeque, covered with animal skins or covers weaved of reeds. The 19th century saw much devastation from grave plundering; many items found on the site found their way to the Canarian museum of Las Palmas, who bought them. Subsequently, the site was designated as a nature reserve to stop the plundering and other damages. The importance of water courses through the valley is shown by the many remains of water mills. A museum has been built at the beginning of the GC-103 road: the Guayadeque museum – Centre of Archaeological interpretation (Sp.: ''Museo de Guayadeque – Centro de Interpretación Arqueológica''). It shelters an exhibition on human activities in the valley, going back to pre-Hispanic times.

Nature

The ravine is home to more than 80 endemic species, notably the '' Gallotia stehlini'' (Sp. ''Lagarto Canarión''), the largest species of lizards in Europe and Africa that can reach in length. The vegetation include elements of thermophile woodland and uncommon vegetal species, both meeting on the steep slopes. Such are for example '' canariensis''''Escobilla''
an
''Escobilla de Guayadeque'', p. 50
on ''grancanaria.com''. ''Escobilla'' is the Spanish common name of '' Kunkeliella canariensis'', a plant endemic to the Guayadeque valley and present only there. (in Sp. ''escobilla de Guayedeque''), a plant of the sandalwood family,''Monumentos Naturales – Barranco de Guayadeque''
on ''jardincanario.org''. '' Helianthemum tholiforme'', ''

Polycarpaea filifolia ''Polycarpaea'' is a genus of plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. The genus was named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1792. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the genus is polyphyletic and needs to be redefined. It falls into three di ...

'' (Sp. ''pataconejo fina'') and many other plants endemic to the island.

Demographics

The population of Guayadeque valley is reduced, but clusters remain. One cluster is ''Cueva Bermeja'' ("Red Cave"), a small hamlet that owes its name to the colour of the stone. The other is "Las Tierras Mountains", the site of ''Los Marteles'' , site of the Saint John-the-Baptist hermitage. In both clusters services, restaurants, souvenir shops exist and one can savour a wine typical of the area, as well as fried pork meat and Canarian wrinkly potatoes.

Protection

Guayadeque valley was listed on June 21, 1991 as Spanish Heritage site as a Site of cultural interest in the category "Archaeological site" regulated by the Law of Historical Heritage of the Canaries. The royal decree 126/1991 was published in the ''Boletín Oficial de Cantabria'' on the following July 12.Royal decree 126/1991 in the ''Boletín Oficial de Cantabria''
It has also been declared a Natural Monument by the Law on Natural Areas of the Canaries,
on ''grancanaria.com''. and is registered on the list of the European Heritage network of natural countrysides, as troglodyte zone.

Access

The GC-103 road that follows the bottom of the valley starts in

from the GC-100 road that goes south to ArinagaArinaga is located in the main industrial zone of Canaries and is one of the major ports of Spain. The GC-100 road starts nearby the Punta de Arinaga Lighthouse. and north to Mercalaspalmas through Ingenio, Cuatro Puertas and Telde. A visitors centre is open from Tuesday to Sunday all year round, located in a cave at the entrance of the valley.

Gallery

Barranco Guayadeque hacia la isla.JPG, Barranco de Guayadeque 2016 04.jpg, Barranco de Guayadeque 2016 07.jpg, Chiesa grotta.jpg, Casa cueva.jpg, Guayadeque, riachuelo.jpg, Barranco de Guayadeque 2016 05.jpg, Barr Gueyadeque kz4.JPG, Babel Mountain - WLE Spain 2015.jpg,

Notes

References

External links

*
List of archaeological Heritage sites, Grand Canary
* On local flora and fauna: **
C-19 – Monumento Natural del barranco de Guayadeque
**
''Flora exclusiva de Gran Canaria en peligro''
("Endangered flora of Gran canaria") {{Gran Canaria Caves of the Canary Islands History of the Canary Islands Landforms of Gran Canaria Archaeological sites in Gran Canaria Prehistoric sites in Spain Agricultural buildings in Spain Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Las Palmas Tourist attractions in the Canary Islands