Arrecife

Arrecife
City
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Lanzarote
Arrecife Location in Canary Islands
Coordinates: 28°57′45″N 13°33′2″W / 28.96250°N 13.55056°W / 28.96250; -13.55056Coordinates: 28°57′45″N 13°33′2″W / 28.96250°N 13.55056°W / 28.96250; -13.55056
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Canary Islands
Province	Las Palmas
Island	Lanzarote
Government
• Mayor	Manuel Fajardo Feo (CC)
Area[1]
• Total	22.72 km2 (8.77 sq mi)
Elevation(AMSL)	20 m (70 ft)
Population (2013)[2]
• Total	55,673
• Density	2,500/km2 (6,300/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (GMT +1) (UTC+1)
Postal code	35500
Area code(s)	+34 (Spain) + 928 (Las Palmas)
Website	www.arrecife.es

Arrecife (/ˌærəˈsiːfeɪ/; Spanish pronunciation: [areˈsife]) is a city and municipality in the Canary Islands (Spain) situated in the centre-east of the island of Lanzarote, of which it has been the capital since 1852. The city owes its name to the rock reef ('Arrecife' is Spanish for 'reef') which covers the beach located in the city. The city also gives its name to the nearby Arrecife Airport.

The population of the municipality is 55,673 (2013),^[2] its area is 22.72 km².^[1] It is south of Haría, east of Tinajo and northeast of Yaiza. Arrecife is a port town on the east coast, served by ferries to the other islands and also Europe and mainland Africa. The LZ1 road connects Arrecife with to the north, the LZ2 road with the southwest, and the LZ3 road serves as the beltway of the city. The tallest building in Lanzarote is the Gran Hotel Arrecife, which is located on the front alongside the harbour.

History

The earliest records of Arrecife date from the fifteenth century when it was a small fishing settlement. The name, given then as Arrecifes, refers to the black volcanic reefs behind which boats could hide, protected from sudden pirate attacks.

Towards the end of the sixteenth century the settlement began to grow in response to a need for accommodation and warehousing to support growing trade between the old and new worlds. The first church was constructed at this time, consecrated to the first bishop of Arrecife, San Ginés. Growing prosperity increased the attractiveness of the town as a pirate target: in 1571 a notorious pirate named Dogan plundered and almost completely destroyed the little port town.

In 1964 Arrecife became the site of Lanzarote's first sea-water desalination plant, which was still operational in 2010.

Historical population

Communities

• Urbanización Playa Honda (subdivision), south.

Sites of interest

• Playa Reducto, Arrecife's town beach.
• Castillo de San José, 18th-century fortress that now houses a collection of modern art.
• Puente de Las Bolas, Bridge leading to the Castillo de San Gabriel.
• Charco de San Ginés, A man-made lagoon used by fishermen.

Gallery

• 

  Church

• 

  The Gran Hotel Arrecife

• 

  Castle of San Gabriel

See also

• List of municipalities in Las Palmas

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arrecife.

		Teguise
	San Bartolomé
	Arrecife
			Atlantic Ocean

Municipalities in the province of Las Palmas Gran Canaria Agaete Agüimes La Aldea de San Nicolás Artenara Arucas Firgas Gáldar Ingenio Mogán Moya Las Palmas San Bartolomé de Tirajana Santa Brígida Santa Lucía de Tirajana Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria Tejeda Telde Teror Valleseco Valsequillo de Gran Canaria Vega de San Mateo Lanzarote Arrecife Haría San Bartolomé Teguise Tías Tinajo Yaiza Fuerteventura Antigua Betancuria La Oliva Pájara Puerto del Rosario Tuineje

Island capitals of the Canary Islands Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife Santa Cruz Santa Cruz de La Palma San Sebastián de La Gomera Valverde Province of Las Palmas Las Palmas Arrecife Puerto del Rosario Caleta de Sebo