Concept in Definition ABC

The word macaronesia comes from the Greek and is formed from two words: makáron is equivalent to happiness and nesoi means islands. Therefore, we are talking about an idea that refers to islands associated with what one understands by happiness. In this case, it is not a archipelago concrete but five, located in the ocean Atlantic: Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Azores, Madeira and Islas Salvajes (in relation to the Canaries they are also popularly known as "fortunate islands", a nickname that connects with the etymological origin of the term macaronesia).

A laboratory for research

These archipelagos have a number of shared characteristics:

1) all of them have a volcanic origin, as they emerged from the depths of the sea after successive Volcanic eruptions,

2) most of the islands are aligned on the same tectonic plate and, on the other hand, they are archipelagos where the same marine currents act and

3) the fauna, the flora and plant fossils have similar characteristics.

These similarities make scientists consider Macaronesia a perfect laboratory to study the biodiversity.

While historical references to Macaronesia date back to ancient times, officially These archipelagos were discovered between the 14th and 15th centuries by Portuguese navigators and Spanish people

From the political point of view they belong to three nations: Cape Verde (former Suburb Portuguese), Spain and Portugal. Tenerife is the largest island (2034 square kilometers) and Roque del Oeste is the smallest (0.01 square kilometers).

Some islands of the Macaronesian archipelago are not populated (for example, Alegranza, Deserta Grande, Mountain Clara or Lobos).

The islands that make up the Canaries constitute the largest archipelago in the Macaronesian region.

These archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean not only share the aforementioned characteristics, but they also have something in common: they are first-rate tourist destinations.

In Greek mythology and culture

In the stories of Greek mythology there is talk of islands located in the ocean where men lead a fully happy life and enjoy the goods of the Earth. In them also end the souls of the heroes who have led a righteous life. Subsequently the Author Greek Plutarch referred to some paradise islands that were called Fortunate Islands.

For most scholars, these references to the ancient world are related to one of the archipelagos that make up Macaronesia.

Fotolia photos: Furian / Betelgejze / Bentor

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