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Grand Canary

Gran Canaria
Collage Gran Canaria.jpg
Top left: Maspalomas Dunes, Top right: Alfredo Kraus Audiorium, Middle left: Parque rural del Nublo (Nublo Rural Park), Middle right: Matriz Santiago de Los Caballero Church, Bottom left: Arucas Church, Bottom right: Casa Museo del Tomas Morales (The House Museum of Thomas Morales)
GC Canarias.png
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates 27°58′N 15°36′W / 27.967°N 15.600°W / 27.967; -15.600
Area 1,560 km2 (600 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,949 m (6,394 ft)
Highest point Pico de Las Nieves
Spain
Region Macaronesia
Autonomous Community Canary Islands
Province Las Palmas
Largest settlement Las Palmas (pop. 383,308)
Demographics
Population 847,830 (2015)
Pop. density 543 /km2 (1,406 /sq mi)

Gran Canaria (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡɾaŋ kaˈna.ɾja]; originally meaning "Great [Island] of Dogs") is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, an African archipelago which is part of Spain, with a population of 847,830 (in 2015) that constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago. Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1,350 km (840 mi) from Europe. With an area of 1,560 km2 (602 sq. mi) and an altitude of 1,956 m (6,417 ft) at the Pico de las Nieves, Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the archipelago in both area and altitude.

Gran Canaria was populated by the Canarii, who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Canarii called the island Tamarán or Land of the Brave. After over a century of European incursions and attempts at conquest, the island was conquered on April 29, 1483, after a campaign that lasted five years, by the Crown of Castile, with the support of Queen Isabella I, a conquest which turned out to be an important step towards the expansion of the unified Spain.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was founded on June 24, 1478, under the name "Real de Las Palmas", by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army. In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is, jointly with Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.


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Wikipedia

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