Eruption of Trevejo (1706) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eruption of Trevejo (1706) |
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The village of Garachico was built on a lava delta formed during the 1706 eruption.
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| Volcano | Arenas Negras volcano or Trevejo volcano |
| Location | Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 28°19′N 16°46′W / 28.317°N 16.767°W |
| VEI | 2 |
The eruption of the Trevejo volcano, also known as the eruption of the Arenas Negras volcano, was a volcanic eruption. It happened from May 5 to May 14, 1706. The volcano is located about 8 kilometers south of Garachico. This town is in the north of the island of Tenerife, Spain. The eruption destroyed the old port of Garachico, which was very important back then. This event ended a very successful time for the town.
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What Happened in Garachico Before the Eruption?
In the 1600s and 1700s, Garachico had the busiest port on Tenerife. Ships full of wine and sugar sailed from here. They traveled to places like America and Europe. The town of Garachico was started by a banker from Genoa named Cristóbal de Ponte in 1496. It became a rich and respected place. Thanks to its busy port, the town had many grand buildings. These included palaces, large estates called haciendas, fancy homes, and beautiful churches. Today, Garachico is still known for its well-preserved historic buildings.
How the Trevejo Volcano Erupted
In the early morning of May 5, 1706, the Trevejo volcano erupted. Lava flowed down a steep slope towards the sea. The eruption badly damaged Garachico, especially its port. The port was completely covered by lava. Seven streams of lava moved down the hillside. They buried a large part of the town.
An English writer named Olivia Stone visited the Canary Islands in 1883. She wrote about the eruption based on stories she heard. She described it as a very big disaster. However, the eruption did not completely destroy the city.
Luckily, no one died during the eruption. People had enough time to get to safety. For example, the nuns from the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception were moved to a safe place. They returned two years later. The monastery itself was not damaged by the lava.
The lava flows reached the sea. This actually created new land for the town. It also formed natural pools and puddles. These are now known as El Caletón. The eruption also affected the nearby town of El Tanque. But the damage there was much smaller. The eruption finally stopped on June 13, 1706.
What Were the Effects of the Eruption?
The Trevejo volcano eruption had a huge impact on Tenerife. It caused the biggest economic and social changes on the island. This is true even though the eruption was not extremely explosive.
No lives were lost, but the eruption changed Garachico's future. It buried the old port and many important buildings. For example, the lava flows stopped right at the Church of Saint Anne. But the heat from the lava burned parts of the church. It had to be rebuilt between 1714 and 1721. The eruption also covered other buildings. These included the convents of Saint Didacus, Saint Clare, and Saint Francis. The House of the Count of La Gomera was also affected.
After this natural disaster, traders started using the port of Puerto de la Cruz. Garachico became just a small fishing port. This stopped its international trade. It led to the town's decline.
A historian named Alejandro Cioranescu wrote about the Trevejo volcano eruption. He called it the "Canarian Pompeii". This compares it to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was buried by a volcanic eruption.
See also
- Historical eruptions of Tenerife
