El Hierro Island, Canary Islands#

von Natalia Zmajkovivova
- El Hierro Part 1: Walk at the edge of the World
- El Hierro Part 2: Erese
- El Hierro Part 3: Mirador de la Pena
- El Hierro Part 4: Las Puntas
- El Hierro Part 5: Ecomuseo de Guinea
- El Hierro Part 6: Valverde
- El Hierro Part 7: Sabinar
- El Hierro Part 8: Walking the inner Island

El Hierro - the Meridian Island#

Did you ever asked yourself how it looks like at the end of the world? Few centuries ago this used to be the place where the old world ended, as far as the European cartographers were concerned. Here you can see a collection of places from many parts of the island. But before, let me give you few information and facts about this calm and mystical island. El Hierro El Hierro , nicknamed Isla del Meridiano (the "Meridian Island"), is the farthest south and west Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. There are seven main islands of the Canaries and El Hierro with its 268.71 square kilometres is the smallest one. The altitude varies from 125 m to 700 m above sea-level. All pictures were taken in 2016.

Part 1: Walk at the edge of the World#

Punta de la Orchilla El Hierro Punta de la Orchilla #

Punta de la Orchilla on the south-western side of El Hierro, is a significant location as it is one of the most westerly points in the archipelago of Canarias Island. The locality around the Punta de la Orchilla is very isolated. Reaching the site requires a 25 km trip from the next city Sabinosa. The road is only partly metalled, the end of the road being both unmade, and uneven. Although the site is accessible, the tower and buildings are closed. At the very end of the road you can see a 25m high Lighthouse, which is still in use.

Punta Orchilla Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro de Punta Orchilla). The Lighthouse first became operational in 1933 and is still active in the municipality of El Pinar. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova
Punta Orchilla Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro de Punta Orchilla). The Lighthouse first became operational in 1933 and is still active in the municipality of El Pinar. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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Punta Orchilla Lighthouse, El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Punta Orchilla Lighthouse, El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Punta Orchilla Lighthouse, El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Wooden cross on the shore at Cueva del Acantilado near the lighthouse of Faro de Orchilla. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo: Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Prime Meridian El Hierro Monumento Meridiano Cero #

In the European History El Hierro was known as the place for the prime Meridian (it is also known as Ferro Meridian) since the island was considered the most western position of the Old World. Today you can see a monument which is marking the fact that the Prime Meridian was fixed on this spot for over two hundred years, before being transferred to the Observatory in Greenwich, in England. Ferro was used in most 16th and 17th Century maps. Now this monument remembers the old days and has a big symbolic meaning. It is situated in a very lonely and barren place by the sea. From here you can definitely catch the “last man on earth” feeling.

Looking for the Prime Meridian. Located at the western point of the island in the Region of El Pinar. El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova
Looking for the Prime Meridian. Located at the western point of the island in the Region of El Pinar. El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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El Pinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, ©Natalia Zmajkovicova, under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

See more places:

- El Hierro Part 2: Erese