Canary Islands FAQ -

Frequently Asked Questions about the Canary Islands

Q:Where are the Canary Islands?

A: The Canary Islands are situated off the north-western coast of mainland Africa, across from Morocco and the Western Sahara desert. The Canary islands latitude and longitude for Canary Islands center point is 28° 06'N, 15° 24'W

Q: Are the Canary Islands part of Spain?

A: Yes

Q: How did the Canary Islands get their name?

A: The origin of the Canary Islands' name is nothing to do with the yellow Canary bird, more likely from the Latin 'Insula Canaria', meaning the Island of the Dogs, a name applied to Gran Canaria initially, as the island had a population of large and fierce dogs, similar to the Presa Canario, a characteristic that most struck home with the ancient Romans who came into contact with the islands.