El Hierro, nicknamed Isla del Meridiano (the "Meridian Island"), is a Spanish island. It is the smallest and furthest south and west of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Cattle and livestock farming are the mainstay of the community, while volcanic peaks and dark lava flows dominate the landscape.
Like the rest of the chain, the island is sharply mountainous. The highest point is situated in the middle of the island, in Malpaso, 1501 meters high. El Hierro is home to many unique species, such as the El Hierro Giant Lizard.
In 2000 El Hierro was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO which implies that most of the fauna and flora are protected. The coast is also included in the Reserve, all the underwater life is protected. Being a Biosphere Reserve camping is prohibited as is collecting fruits and fish from the nature reserve.
Things to See & Do
* Garoé or Holy Tree
* Lagartario – prehistoric lizards
* Mirador De Isora (Lookout)
* El Sabinar – 100 year old Juniper forest
* Hiking, Scuba diving, bike riding
General information
Cruise Season – Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language – Spanish
Land Area – 277 km’s²
Population –840,000
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time –GMT/UTC plus one hour
International Country Telephone Code – +34
Port Location – The Ports on El Hierro are located at La Palma and Frontera.
Transport Links- El Hierro is a tourist destination. It is served by a small airport at Valverde and a ferry terminal, both of which connect to Tenerife.
A hire car is the best option for discovering the remote wilderness regions.