Between volcanic rocks and beaches, It wouldn't seem to be much vegetation, but there is. The flora in Lanzarote is formed by a varied number of species that conver the insular geography. The "representative" green tones of the flora can be observed especially in winter, when the mounts and of Lanzarote take colors that are not "Volcanoes typical".
Lanzarote is not an island of significant vegetation, but of grass and stones. However, a list of plants and lichens, which were part of the island economy, such as "orchilla", used for the manufacture of inks and the "barilla", used to obtaining of caustic soda.
Lanzarote's low altitude, 670 meters at its peak, has complicated the development of cloud formations associated with the "Alisios" winds, a phenomenon known in the Canary Islands as "sea of clouds", which is why microclimates and Number of bioclimatic floors is reduced, compared to the rest of the islands of the archipelago.
In the island you can see a first floor of vegetation, associated with coastal areas, as it contains species that adapt to the extreme conditions of insolation and salinity, such as scrub and sea grapes.
The sweet Tabaiba is an endemic canary plant typical of low and dry areas, which can be found in what would be the second floor of vegetation with great abundance, which is why it was declared a vegetable symbol of the island.
Malpais de la Corona hosts the main "Tabaibal" in Lanzarote, north of the island. The Palmera Canaria (Canary islands palm tree) dominates the area on the upper floor, the main palm grove of the island is in Haría, in the so-called "Valley of the Thousand Palms".
The main representation of vertebrate fauna that can be observed in Lanzarote, as in the rest of the Canary Islands, are the birds. Currently, 40 species of birds, 3 reptiles and 6 mammals are known on the island.
Among the birds stand out the kestrel, the king shrike, the caraway or the canarian hubara.
One of the most impressive places to see these species in the "Macizo de Famara", since this cliff is 600 meters high and it extends for 14 kilometers It becomes a sanctuary for the threatened species that inhabit Lanzarote's territory.
Lanzarote and the Chinijo archipelago, which includes the island of La Graciosa, Alegranza, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste, have a poultry richness that emphasizes the presence of gray hawks, "quirres" (alimoches), as well as osprey or Barbary Falcons.
As for the reptiles, Lanzarote is home to the Atlantic lizard and the perennial majorero.
A characteristic and very recognizable species of Lanzarote, which already enters the invertebrate species, is the so-called "Jameito" Munidopsis polymorpha, which is a tiny, albino and blind crab, which inhabits exclusively in the saltwater lagoon that exists in the Volcanic tube of the Jameos del Agua. This impressive cave is a must see for anyone visiting Lanzarote and decides to see these "white dots" on the rocky bottom of a unique lagoon.
The dromedaries (because they only have one hump), although not native, are a representative image of Lanzarote. The "Camels of Lanzarote" are located in the "Montañas del Fuego" and people love to see them walk through the volcanic lands of the Timanfaya.
Without a doubt, Lanzarote is not only an incredible place on the surface, but also the submerged area is home to life and incomparable underwater landscapes. In the waters surrounding this beautiful island and the archipelago chinijo are the majority of the species of the fauna of Lanzarote.
Lanzarote is the only island in the Canarian Archipelago that shares a marine platform with another neighboring island, Fuerteventura, in addition to sharing it with the islets that create the Chinijo Archipelago. This geomorphological phenomenon enhances the breadth of shallow depths in which marine life can be appreciated.
The shelfs are exceptional with walls covered with yellow corals, oranges and blacks, polyps and large gorgonians. The waters surrounding this Biosphere Reserve, warm all year round and with a visibility of up to 40 meters, harbor numerous species of oceanic fauna and flora in its own environment.
For Scuba-diving lovers, it is amazing the chance to contemplate mers, stripes, hammer head sharks, moray eels and a wide range of native species that stand out for their variety of shapes and colors. Occasionally, they may also be encountered with mammals such as various species of dolphins or reptiles such as sea turtles.
The sandy bottoms with vertical walls and rocky caves give a special habitat in which you can contemplate "viejas", sea mice, angelfish, tunas, the giant devil ray, starfish, horse mackerel, bream, salemas and an endless number of fish and even, numerous sunken ships that serve as home for a great diversity of species.
