The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago of eight major islands located off the coast of northwest Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. They are the outermost region of the European Union. Although one usually thinks of birds when they hear the name of the islands the actual name Islas Canarias means Islands of dogs. This is probably a reference to the sea lions that once populated the islands.

            King Juba is credited as having found the islands for the Western World in the 1st century AD. When the islands were further explored several indigenous tribes were discovered. These peoples became known as the Guanches. The islands were visited by Arabs as well as sailors from Majorca, Portugal, and Genoa. In 1448 Prince Henry the Navigator bought the lordship of Lanzarote for himself and Portugal. A revolt in 1459 brought an end to Portugal’s rule over the islands. The Treaty of Alcacovas brought Spanish rule to the islands.

            In the early days sugar cane and wine were important products of the islanders became wealthy selling these commodities to the passing ships. Soon the islands became an important stop on the trade routes that ran along the African coast and from Europe. Pirates, Privateers and the Ottoman Turks attacked the islands fro time to time, but it was the Dutch who, in 1599 almost captured the islands. However the Canarian cavalry were able to drive the Dutch out. Bananas, tobacco and tourism are now the primary income of the islands.

            .  Today the islands are ruled under the constitutional monarchy of Spain. In 1982 autonomy was granted to the Canary Islands. The predominant religion is Catholicism although other Christian religions as well as Islam are present.

            The islands are tropical and tourists enjoy swimming and scuba diving along the reefs and taking photos of the unusual sea life. Island sports include Canarian Wrestling, the game of the sticks, and Shepherd’s jump.