La Frontera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Frontera
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 La Frontera
Location in Canary Islands
La Frontera
Location in Spain, Canary Islands
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Canary Islands |
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| Province |  Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
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| Island |  El Hierro |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 84.20 km2 (32.51 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 300 m (1,000 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 4,018 | ||
| • Density | 47.720/km2 (123.593/sq mi) | ||
| Postal code |
E-38911
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| Climate | BSh | ||
| Website | http://www.aytofrontera.org/ | ||
La Frontera is a town located on the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands, Spain. Its name means "the border" in Spanish. This municipality is found in the northwestern part of El Hierro.
In 2007, a part of La Frontera's land was separated to create a new town called El Pinar. This change helped both areas grow and manage their communities better.
Contents
Cool Places to Visit
La Frontera has some really interesting spots that are worth exploring. These places tell stories about the island's history and natural beauty.
The Orchilla Lighthouse
The Punta de la Orchilla is a lighthouse located on the western side of La Frontera. For a long time, this lighthouse was considered a very important place.
Back in the 2nd century AD, a famous mapmaker named Ptolemy thought this point was the westernmost edge of the known world. Because of this, the island of El Hierro was sometimes called "Meridian Island."
In 1634, a French leader named Cardinal Richelieu decided that the prime meridian – the imaginary line used to measure longitude around the Earth – should pass through the Orchilla Lighthouse. This was a big deal for mapmakers!
Many maps from the 16th and 17th centuries showed this as a key reference point. However, in 1884, countries around the world met at the International Meridian Conference. They decided that the Greenwich Royal Observatory in England would be the new standard for the prime meridian.
La Dehesa and the Virgen de los Reyes
La Dehesa is home to a special church called the hermitage of the Virgen de los Reyes. She is the patron saint, or protector, of El Hierro island. Her feast day is celebrated every year on September 24th.
Every four years, there's a very special event. A statue of the Virgen de los Reyes is carried in a procession across all the towns on the island. This big celebration happens on the first Saturday of July. For example, it took place in 2001 and 2021.
Population Over Time
The number of people living in La Frontera has changed over the years. Here's a look at how the population has grown and shrunk at different times.
| Year | Population |
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| 1991 | 3,612 |
| 1996 | 4,409 |
| 2001 | 4,455 |
| 2002 | 5,359 |
| 2003 | 5,435 |
| 2004 | 5,231 |
| 2013 | 4,058 |
