Timanfaya National Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Timanfaya National Park
Parque Nacional de Timanfaya
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Location	Lanzarote, Spain
Area	51.07 km² (19.72 sq mi)
Established	1974

Timanfaya National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) is a special place in Spain. It is a national park located on the island of Lanzarote. This island is part of the Canary Islands, which are off the coast of Africa. The park covers parts of two towns: Tinajo and Yaiza.

Timanfaya National Park is about 51 square kilometers (20 square miles) in size. The entire park is made of volcanic soil. This means it was formed by volcanoes! In 2007, Timanfaya National Park was chosen as one of the 100 finalists for the "12 Treasures of Spain." It's a truly unique and important natural area.

Charco de los Ciclos is a green lake.
Timanfaya's landscape looks like another planet.
A volcanic crater in Timanfaya.

Volcanoes and Eruptions
- The Great Eruptions of 1730-1736
- Geothermal Activity Today
Exploring the Park
- Bus Tours
- Camel Rides
Protecting Timanfaya
Images for kids
See also

Volcanoes and Eruptions

Timanfaya National Park is famous for its volcanoes. The land here was created by powerful volcanic eruptions. The biggest eruptions happened a long time ago. They took place between the years 1730 and 1736.

The Great Eruptions of 1730-1736

For six years, volcanoes on Lanzarote erupted almost non-stop. Lava flowed across the island, covering towns and farms. Ash and rocks shot into the sky. These eruptions changed the island forever. They created the unique landscape you see in Timanfaya today.

The lava flows cooled and hardened into strange shapes. They formed mountains, caves, and vast fields of black rock. This makes the park look like a different planet. It's often called the "Mountains of Fire."

Geothermal Activity Today

Even though the big eruptions stopped centuries ago, the heat from the Earth is still very close to the surface in Timanfaya. This is called geothermal activity. Park rangers can show you amazing things because of this heat.

They can pour water into a hole, and it shoots out as steam, like a mini-geyser!
They can put dry brush into a small pit, and it catches fire from the heat.
Restaurants in the park even cook food using the natural heat from underground.

This ongoing heat reminds us that the volcanoes are still active, even if they are sleeping.

Exploring the Park

Because the park is so special and fragile, visitors cannot walk freely everywhere. This helps protect the unique environment.

Bus Tours

Most visitors explore Timanfaya National Park by taking a special bus tour. The bus drives along a narrow road called the "Ruta de los Volcanes" (Route of the Volcanoes). This route winds through the most amazing volcanic landscapes. You can see huge craters and vast lava fields. The bus tour is a great way to see the park's beauty safely.

Camel Rides

For a different adventure, you can also ride a camel in certain areas outside the main park. These camel rides offer a fun way to experience the volcanic landscape. It's a popular activity for families visiting Lanzarote.

Protecting Timanfaya

Timanfaya National Park is a protected area. This means it's a place where nature is kept safe. The park helps protect the unique plants and animals that live here. It also preserves the incredible volcanic landscape for everyone to enjoy.

The park is important for science too. Scientists study the volcanoes and the way life adapts to this harsh environment. Protecting Timanfaya helps us learn more about our planet.