Pájara is a municipality in the southwestern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the
Province of Las Palmas
The Province of Las Palmas (, ; es, Provincia de Las Palmas) is a province of Spain, consisting of the eastern part of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, capital city of this province and of the isla ...
in the Canary Islands as well as the name of its largest town. Its population is 20,931 (2013),Instituto Canario de Estadística , population and the area is 383.52 km². Pájara is both the southernmost and the westernmost municipality on the island. Pájara is also the largest municipality on the island. The largest towns in the municipality of Pájara are
Morro Jable
Morro Jable is a locality belonging of the municipality of Pájara, in the island of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain. With around 7,000 inhabitants as of 2020, it is the most populated settlement in the municipality. It was founded by Ciril ...
and
Costa Calma
Costa Calma is a beach holiday resort town in the Canarian island of Fuerteventura, Spain. It is part of the municipality Pájara, and has 5,670 inhabitants (2013).Ajuy is situated in the north of the municipality, near
Betancuria
Betancuria is a small town and a municipality in the western part of the island of Fuerteventura in the Province of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. The population is 811 (2013),Jandía
Jandía is a peninsula in the southwestern part of the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The peninsula is entirely in the municipality of Pájara. Within the peninsula is Fuerteventura's tallest mountain, Pico de Jandía or ''Pico de ...
peninsula is part of the municipality.
Geology
Fuerteventura is the oldest island in the Canary Islands, dating back 20 million years to a volcanic eruption from the
Canary hotspot
The Canary hotspot, also called the Canarian hotspot, is a hotspot and volcanically active region centred on the Canary Islands located off the north-western coast of Africa. Hypotheses for this volcanic activity include lithosphere extension perm ...
. The majority of the island was created about 5 million years ago and since then has been eroded by wind and precipitation. On the seabed off the West coast of the island rests an enormous slab of bedrock long and wide, which appears to have slid off the island largely intact at some point in prehistory, similar to the predicted future collapse of
Cumbre Vieja
The Cumbre Vieja (; meaning "Old Summit") is an active volcanic ridge on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, Spain. The spine of Cumbre Vieja trends in an approximate north–south direction, comprising the southern half of La Palma, ...
, a geological fault on another Canary Island,
La Palma
La Palma (, ), also known as ''La isla bonita'' () and officially San Miguel de La Palma, is the most north-westerly island of the Canary Islands, Spain. La Palma has an area of making it the fifth largest of the eight main Canary Islands. The ...
. The last volcanic activity in Fuerteventura occurred between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago.
The highest point in Fuerteventura is Pico de la Zarza (807 m) in the Southwestern part of the island. Geographical features include Istmo de la Pared, which is wide and is the narrowest part of Fuerteventura. The island is divided into two parts, the northern portion which is Maxorata and the southwestern part called the Jandía peninsula.
Beaches
Fuerteventura was chosen among 500 European destinations by the Quality Coast International Certification Program of the European Coastal and Marine Union as one of the most attractive tourist destinations for visitors interested in cultural heritage, environment and sustainability.
The church of Nuestra Señora de Regla in Pájara
The church of Nuestra Señora de Regla in Pájara town has interesting sculptures of sun pattern, snakes, panther and birds above the main entrance. It is thought by some experts to show Aztec influence.Government of the Canary Island page gobcan.es, retrieved 14 December 2009
See also
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List of municipalities in Las Palmas
This is a list of the 34 municipalities in the province of Las Palmas in the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, Spain. There are 21 municipalities on the island of Gran Canaria, 6 on the island of Fuerteventura and 7 on the island of Lan ...