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Gran Canaria is an island of the Canary Islands.
Located in the Atlantic Ocean about 150 kilometers (~93 miles) off the northwestern coast of the Africa and about 1350 km (~838 miles) from EuropeThe island was populated by the Canarii (Guanches), who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Canarii called the island Tamarán.
After over a century of european (French, Portuguese...) incursions and attempts at conquest, the island was conquered in 1483 April 29, for the Kingdom of Castile, with the support of Queen Isabella I - it was very important step in the expansion of Spain.
The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was founded on June 24, 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas", by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army.
In 1492, Cristopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas.
Geography
Gran Canaria is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura.
The island is of volcanic origin, mostly made of fissure vents. Gran Canaria is the second most populated island of the Canary Islands after Tenerife.
Gran Canaria's surface area is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, with a diameter of approximately 50 km.
The island has a population of 820,257 with 378,628 (year 2005) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the two capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
