A Glimpse of Paradise in El Hierro

A GLIMPSE OF PARADISE IN EL HIERRO

Until Christopher Columbus discovered America, El Hierro or «Meridian Island» was the farthermost isle for the Europeans, the western end of the known world. The smallest island of the Canary Archipelago was listed a biosphere reserve in 2000. This volcanic pebble counts 10 000 inhabitants and is located 3000 kilometers from Paris.

El Hierro, meaning «iron» in Spanish used to be the Prime Meridian well before Paris and Greenwich. In the XVth and XVIth centuries with the great maritime discoveries, and as Ptolemy’s geography was still an authority, all the nations wished to have their meridian. In 1634, Louis XIII and Richelieu decided that now on, all the maps should take «Ferro Island» (latin for Hierro) as a reference for longitudes origin.

In Valverde, the capital, pretty houses and lemon-trees huddle around the church built in the XVIth century by the Spaniards soon after having turn the ancient natives, the Bimbaches, into slavery.

The indented coastline is volcanic and arid and on the heights, the Natural Reserve of Mercafete with its flowering landscapes reminds of the verdant meadows of Ireland. The juniperus-trees are lying with the winds from America, and the thickset forests of pines are a mere splendour.

In the desert thrive marvellous and strange plants. In the cliffs, a few places where the vegetation is sparse, allow you to observe giant lizards (Gallotia Simonyi). They show a broad head, measure about 2 feet long (60 cm) and eat plants, namely a variety of lavender and insects.

Umberto Ecco in his novel «L’Isola del Giorno Prima» mentioned El Hierro. On the island can be found the smallest hotel of the world, according to the Guinness Book. It offers 4 bedrooms and a bar with a fantastic vista. Very soon the place will attain energy self-sufficiency with the construction of a 10 megawatt wind farm with 2 water reservoirs to store excess energy.

The Spanish banknotes in Euros do not show the island, what a pity. Is it to preserve this little paradise?

The coast of El Golfo.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coast_El_Golfo.JPG

El Hierro, lying juniper-trees.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Sabinar.JPG

A wasp on an eucalyptus flower.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avispa.JPG

Mesembrietum, a desert flower.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Unk_desert_flower_1.jpg

The western end of the known world prior to discovery of America by Columbus.

Image source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:El_Hierro_Western_End.JPG

Sun and clouds at the Virgen de la Caridad Chapel, at Jinama viewpoint. El Hierro.

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:El_Hierro_Virgen_de_la_Caridad.JPG

Juniper-trees bent with the winds from America.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/El_Hierro_Sabinar.JPG

Hermitage Virgen de Los Reyes.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ErmitaVirgenLosReyes.jpg

Valley of El Golfo.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ValleElGolfo.jpg

The lighthouse Faro de Ocilla.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Faro_de_Orchilla_El_Hierro.jpg

El Hierro Giant lizards.

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gallotia_simonyi.jpg