Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands.

The first inhabitants are believed to have been from North Africa.
The word Mahorero (Majorero) or Maho is still used today to describe the people of Fuerteventura and comes from the ancient word 'mahos' meaning a type of goatskin shoe worn by the original inhabitants.
They lived in caves and semi-subterranean dwellings, some of which have been discovered and excavated revealing relics of early tools and pottery.
In antiquity, the island was known as Planaria, among other names, in reference to the flatness of most of its landscape.

The island played host to Phoenician & Maur settlers & even got a mention in the famous book “Odyssey” by Homer.
The name of the island itself is believed to have come from Bethencourt's exclamation "Que forte aventure!" ("What a grand adventure"). However the name Fuerteventura simply means "strong fortune" when translated literally from Spanish to English.
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The island is part of the province of Las Palmas & is divided into 6 municipalities;

• Antigua
  
• Betancuria
  
• La Oliva
  
• Pájara
  
• Puerto del Rosario
  
• Tuineje
  

The island has the longest beaches in the archpelago and is a paradise for sun, beach and watersports enthusiasts.
Temperatures rarely fall below 18 °C or rise above 24 °C. There are no fewer than 152 beaches along its coastline - 50 kilometres of fine, white sand and 25 kilometres of black volcanic shingle.

Fuerteventura is the oldest island in the Canary Islands dating back 20 million years to a volcanic eruption from the Canary hotspot.
The highest point in Fuerteventura is Mount Jandía (807 m) in the southwestern part of the island.

Geographical features include Istmo de la Pared which is 5 km wide and is the narrowest part of Fuerteventura.

The island is divided into two parts, the northern portion which is Maxorata and the southwestern part called Jandía peninsula.

The island is the least settled in the Canary Islands.