Where Are The Canary Islands Located?

The Canary Islands are an archipelago or group of islands belonging to the Kingdom of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of North Africa. The volcanic islands are located a little over a hundred miles East of Morocco.   

It is not clear weather the islands derive their names from Arabic or Latin. It is however certain that the Spanish conquistadors did not conquer the islands completely for over a century due to resistance by the local Guanches. The Spanish finally managed to gain control of the islands in 1495. The region prospered much as a transit point for Spanish conquerors, missionaries and explorers heading west to the Americas.

Today the Canary Islands are famous as a holiday destination. Over ten million tourists visit the islands each year. Nearly a third of the economy is based on tourism.