Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin, which is mostly made of fissure vents. The island was populated by the Guanches, who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Guanches called the island Tamarán. It was claimed by Spain in the 15th century. Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, with a diameter of approximately 50 km.

The island has a population of 802,257 with 378,628 (year 2005) of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the biggest city of the Canary Islands, also the capital of the province of Las Palmas, and also one of the two capitals of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

This island is called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found. The island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The number of annual visitors is 2.2 million (2,200,000). Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island. The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny. The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the western coast is rockier and mountainous. The island possseses 32[1] Natural Protected Spaces, that they emphasize the Rural Park of Nublo, Doramas's Jungle, the Ravine of Azuaje, Tamadaba, Pino Santo, etc. Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north. There is a large bird park, Palmitos Park, in the south of the island (which is currently closed to the public until further notice), as well as many beach resort communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, and Maspalomas where most tourists visit. The Dunes of Maspalomas are located between Playa del Inglés and Maspalomas. Another tourist attraction is the Lighthouse at Maspalomas situated at the western end of Maspalomas. Still further to the west along the southern shore, also in the Municipality of Mogán are the communities of Puerto Rico and Puerto de Mogán, a picturesque village referred to as "Little Venice" on account on its many canals.
Puerto Rico:

Other attractions include Palmitos Park, Reptilandia Park, Cocodrilos Park, Roque Nublo (an 80m monolith), Cenobio de Valerón with about 290 caves, Cueva Pintada the most important archaeological park in Canary Islands and the botanical gardens Jardin Canario (in Tafira Alta) and Cactualdea (in La Aldea de San Nicolás).
Playa amadores:

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life. Las Canteras Beach lies in the heart of the city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also known for its annual Carnaval. It was the first stop of Cristóbal Colón's expedition on his way back from the Americas, a commemoration of which is the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad, where the navigator prayed, and the Casa de Colón. Other monuments in the capital city are the Museo Canario (the most important archaeology museum in the archipelago), the Cathedral, the Plaza del Espiritu Santo, etc. The town of Agüimes, on the eastern part of the island, has been carefully restored, and its town centre, centered around its old church and a peaceful square, now evokes the quiet living of a traditional Canarian town. The district also has some of the best preserved cave dwellings, in the protected area of the Guayadeque Ravine, where even the church has been built into the hillside and visitors can find a number of popular cave restaurants. The district also includes the most renowned scuba diving area on the island: the marine reserve at the playa de El Cabrónjust outside the town of Arinaga.
Puerto de Mogán:

Other important towns are Telde and Vecindario (within the municipality of Santa Lucia de Tirajana) and Gáldar. In Arucas there is a magnificent Neogothic temple, popularly known as " Arucas's Cathedral ", as well as a large fertile plain where bananas are grown. In Gáldar and its surroundings there is also a banana-growing plain and some remarkable archaeological remains, such as Cueva Pintada or Cenobio de Valerón's communal silos, ancient tombs, and the port of Sardina del Norte (one of the island's ports where, as in Las Palmas's, Christobal Colón used to get supplies for his ships). In Teror is kept the catholic image of Virgen del Pino, the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of Arguineguin in the Municipality of Mogán. The market, which is held on Tuesdays, is the largest on the island.