The Island of Lanzarote is of volcanic origin and covers an area of 845,9 square kilometres. It is a product of magma, ejected from an endless number of vents, more than one hundred of which can still be seen all over the island in form of crater-like mountains or cones.

The "Ruta de los Volcanes" (Circular Tour of the Volcanoes) goes through the south-eastern region of the island of some two hundred square kilometres in size, with the Fire-Mountains as its centre point. The area is completely covered with igneous rock, result of the large amount of lava and volcanic ashes that poured from enormous craters which firstly appeared in the village of Vega de Timanfaya. There remain about thirty main cones bearing tragic testimony to those unimaginable occurrences.

The spectacular eruption occurred in the eighteenth century and is one of the most important events registered in the world history of volcanism. It is not only significant for the enormous amount of material discharged, but also for its lengthy duration, starting in September 1730 and finishing in April 1736.

A witness to this catastrophe, the priest of Yaiza, Andrés Lorenzo Curbelo, made the following manuscript statement: "On September 1st, 1730 between nine and ten at night, the earth opened up suddenly near "Timanfaya, two Leguas" (approx. 11 km.) away from Yaiza. During the first night, an enormous mountain rose up from the bowels of the earth; from its apex flames burst out that continued to burn for nineteen days". This was the spectacular beginning of the eruptions that would continue, with a few periods of calmness, for a little more than five and a half years.

From the natural lookout of "Montaña Rajada", situated at 350 metres above sealevel, we can view one of the most impressive areas: an immense sea of lava that occupies the major part of the National Park of Timanfaya and extends up to the ocean. Scattered with volcanic cones, surmounted by Dantesque craters emerged from the ground, it is traversed by long, deep crevices originating from the streaming incandescent lava.

The material hurled out from the craters and crevices levelled the depressions of the ground, creating a horizontal surface. When the incandescent magma made contact with the water, it caused terrific columns of steam, and by flowing into the ocean, it considerably increased the area of the island.

In the historic manuscript of the priest of Yaiza you can read the following report: "On 18th October, three new openings appeared in the area of Santa Catalina. Masses of heavy smoke poured out of their vents covering the island, and vast quantities of cinder, sand and ashes are deposited on the surrounding area. Because of the explosions which accompanied these phenomena, the darkness caused by the masses of ash, and the smoke covering the island, the inhabitants of Yaiza felt compelled to flee more than once".

A large part of the ground that now is covered by this immense sea of petrified lava, once was one of the islands most fertile regions. It consisted of rich loam and was covered with cornfields.

This region had been sparsely populated with small villages and solitary farmhouses: a total of 420 houses were destroyed. The most important were: the villages of Timanfaya, Los Rodeos, Mancha Blanca, Santa Catalina, Mazo, Jarretas, Tingafa, Peña Palomas, Testeina, La Geria, Macintafe, Mozaga, Guagaro, Masdache and Iguadén, as were the farmhouses Maretas and Chupaderos, and the chapel of San Juan Bautista, to mention only some.

The volcanoes of "El Parque Nacional de Timanfaya" (The Timanfaya National Park) belong to the so-called Hawaiian group. They are characteristic of the ejection of gigantic columns of ash. These ashes, called "lapilli" in volcanism, in the present case were transported by the wind, thus flooding extensive areas and covering hillsides and craters of many an existent mountain. An excellent example of this copious rain of "lapilli" is the area with the meaningful name "Valle de la Tranquilidad" (Valley of Stillness).

The principal nucleus of the eruption was situated in the "Maciso del Fuego" (Fire Massif), the highest peak of which is of 525 metres above sealevel.

Remarkable are the small parasite volcanoes that build up at the foot of a major central cone, and also the "hornitos", name in geology given to very small volcanoes produced by the violent outpouring of gases trapped within incandescent lava. One of its most interesting collections is to be found near the Timanfaya mountain, the highest of the range. Close by is the impressive Corazoncillo volcano, one of the major explosive craters of Lanzarote. The interior slopes of this crater lead down to its caldera, situated deeper than the exterior ground.

The last eruptions in Lanzarote occurred in 1824, after a long preparatory period of a few years, during which the island registered numerous earthquakes of medium intensity. This particular eruption was characterised by the great quantity of lava and the high columns of boiling salt water that gushed out from some of the craters, flooding the surroundings.

Within these chaotic mountains, impressive craters and deep cauldrons, isolation and stillness are absolute. A curious compliment to such impressive a spot are the numerous lichens of different kinds and colours, which cover carpet like most of the rocks and cinders. On the contrary, superior plants are scarce in this virgin soil, being worth mentioning the paradoxical presence of the rush plant that normally thrives only in very moist soils.

At the end of this fascinating tour, you arrive at the mound "Islote de Hilario", most notable for the intensive geothermal heat underground that can pass 100ºC already at a depths of less than one metre. It is named after an inhabitant of Lanzarote, Don Hilario, who used to feed his female camel on the leaves from the fig trees that were growing at its foot.

Because of the special volcanic characteristics and the exceptional beauty of the landscape, this region was declared a National Park in 1974.

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