Firgas is a town and a municipality in the northern part of the island of
Gran Canaria
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 co ...
, 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
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
. Its population is 7,628 (2013),Instituto Canario de Estadística , population and its area is 15.77 km². Firgas was founded in 1488, and it is situated in the mountains, 13 km west of
Las Palmas
Las Palmas (, ; ), officially Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is a Spain, Spanish city and capital of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, on the Atlantic Ocean.
It is the capital (jointly with Santa Cruz de Tenerife), the most populous city in th ...
. The town, which is located in a green and rural zone, is also known as the balcony of the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
, as it provides good views of the northern coast of the island. Bottled water is produced in the town.
Historical population
The town
The central square, which has a church and town hall, is called San Roque. Important attractions are the different squares, and the Paseo de Gran Canaria, where a
waterfall
A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
, as well as relief models of the different islands have been laid out.
Physical geography
Location
Firgas is located in the north of the island of Gran Canaria, 28 kilometres from the island's capital.
It borders the municipalities of Moya, Valleseco,
Teror
Teror is a town and a municipality in the northern part of the island of Gran Canaria in the Province of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Its population is 12,671 (2013),Arucas.
With an area of 15.77 km², Firgas is the smallest municipality on the island of Gran Canaria.
The municipal head is located at 465 m. The municipality has no exit from the sea, being its minimum altitude of 41 m located at a point in the ravine of Quintanilla, on the municipal boundary with Arucas. The highest point of Firgas is reached at 967 meters above sea level on the Pico de Osorio.
Climate
The municipality of Firgas has a dry semi-arid cold climate, according to the
Köppen classification Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author an ...
.
The average annual temperature is 17.8 °C, the hottest month being August at 21.8 °C and the coldest January at 14.4 °C.
As for rainfall, Firgas registers an average of 268 mm per year, with the rainiest months being November and December with 54 mm, and the driest months being July and August with 1 mm.
See also
*
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 ...