Teide

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Teide

Teide without snow
Elevation 3,718 m (12,198 ft)
Location Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Prominence 3,718 m (12,198 ft) Ranked 40th
Coordinates 28°16′15″N, 16°38′21″W
Type Stratovolcano atop basal shield volcano
Last eruption 1909
First ascent 1582 by Sir Edmund Scory
Easiest route Scramble

Teide (pronounced "Tay-dee") or Pico del Teide, is a volcano on Tenerife, Canary Islands. The volcano and its surrounds comprise the Parque Nacional del Teide, an 18900 ha national park that was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO[1] on June 29th, 2007.

At 3,718 metres (12,198 ft) above sea level, and approximately 7,500 metres (25,000 ft) above the adjacent sea bed, Teide is the highest mountain in Spain and the highest mountain in any Atlantic island[1]. (Note: The actual summit stands 3 metres (10 ft) higher than the triangulation station, and associated bench mark, which has an altitude of 3,715 m (12,188 ft) ). The island of Tenerife itself is the third largest volcano by volume on Earth, making Tenerife the third largest volcanic island on Earth. Teide is also the third highest volcano on a volcanic ocean island[2].

Due to its eruptive history and location close to population centres, the volcano has been designated a Decade Volcano worthy of close study to prevent future natural disasters.

Contents

Pico Del Teide (The Peak of Tenerife) is the modern French name attributed to the volcano. The Lunar mountain, Mons Pico, part of the Montes Teneriffe mountain range, situated in the inner ring of the lunar mare Imbrium, was named after this 18th Century version by Johann Schröter[3] [4]. Prior to the 1495 Spanish colonization of Tenerife, the native Guanches referred to the volcano as Echeyde . Echeyde, in the Guanches legends, meant some sort of powerful figure leaving the volcano that could turn into hell. The Guanches believed that Echeyde held up the sky.[citation needed]

Summary diagram for formation of Tenerife through to current Teide volcano

The stratovolcanoes Teide and Pico Viejo are the most recent centres of activity on the volcanic island of Tenerife. Tenerife is the largest (2058 km2) and highest (3718 m) island in the Canaries and has a complex volcanic history. The formation of the island and development of the current Teide volcano can be summarised into five stages, as shown in the diagram to the right.

Similar to the other Canary Islands, and intraplate oceanic islands in general, the island of Tenerife was built by accretion of three large Shield Volcanoes, which developed in a relatively short period of time[5]. This early shield stage volcanism formed the bulk of the emerged part of Tenerife. The shield volcanoes date back to the Miocene and early Pliocene[6] and are preserved in three isolated and deeply eroded massifs: Anaga (to the NE), Teno (to the NW) and Roque del Conde (to the south).[7]. Each individual shield was apparently constructed in less than three million years and the entire island in about eight million years [8].

The initial juvenile stage was followed by a period of 2-3 million years of eruptive quiescence and erosion. This cessation of activity is typical of the Canaries, for example La Gomera is currently in this erosional stage [9]. After this period of quiescence the volcanic activity became concentrated within two large edifices; the central volcano of Las Cañadas and the Anaga massif. The Las Cañadas volcano developed over the Miocene shield volcanoes and may have reached 40 km in diameter and a height of 2500 m[10].

Satellite image of Tenerife with different volcanic massifs labeled. The modern Teide/Pico Viejo massif is located in the northern side of the Las Cañadas Caldera and only represents a small percentage of the islands total mass and volcanic history. The rifts on the island can be seen as linear features (ridges) running NE and NW from the Las Cañadas caldera.
Satellite image of Tenerife with different volcanic massifs labeled. The modern Teide/Pico Viejo massif is located in the northern side of the Las Cañadas Caldera and only represents a small percentage of the islands total mass and volcanic history. The rifts on the island can be seen as linear features (ridges) running NE and NW from the Las Cañadas caldera.

Around 160-220 thousand years ago the summit of the Las Cañadas volcano collapsed creating the Las Cañadas caldera[8]. Two theories on the formation of the this 10 km by 17 km caldera[1] exist. The first is that the depression is the result of a vertical collapse of the volcano. The collapse being triggered by the emptying of shallow magmatic chambers under the Las Cañadas volcano after large-volume explosive eruptions[8][11][12]. The second theory is that the caldera was exposed in a series of lateral gravitational collapses, similar to those described in Hawaii [13]. Evidence for the later theory has been found in both onshore observations [14][15][16] and marine geology studies [17][8].

The most recent activity on the island is the NW and NE rifts and the Pico Teide/Viejo stratovolcanoes, erupted material from which partially fill the Las Cañadas caldera [7]. The rifts can be seen as prominent ridges running NE and NW through the island from the Las Cañadas caldera. The rifts are also believed to have built the previous Las Cañadas volcano, and had a part in its collapse. Since the collapse, eruptives from the rifts have filled the resulting embayment with increasingly differentiated lavas and finally developed the Teide and Pico Viejo stratovolcanoes, nested in the embayment itself[8].

Teide is currently dormant, having last erupted in 1909 from the subsidiary vent of Chinyero, on the western slope. Significant eruptions occurred in 1704, 1705 and 1706, which destroyed the town and principle port of Garachico, plus several smaller villages. Another notable eruption occurred in 1798.

Pico de Teide from Cañada de los Guancheros at 2050 m at the northeast edge of the caldera. The yellowish foreground is pumice gravel, with Retama del Teide shrubs. Cloud blowing in on the northeast trade wind is normal between about 1,000–2,000 m altitude; here, the very top of the cloud evaporates rapidly as it enters the warm, dry, sun-heated caldera. Note also the thawing winter snow cover on the upper slopes. Photo early April.
Pico de Teide from Cañada de los Guancheros at 2050 m at the northeast edge of the caldera. The yellowish foreground is pumice gravel, with Retama del Teide shrubs. Cloud blowing in on the northeast trade wind is normal between about 1,000–2,000 m altitude; here, the very top of the cloud evaporates rapidly as it enters the warm, dry, sun-heated caldera. Note also the thawing winter snow cover on the upper slopes. Photo early April.

About 150,000 years ago, a much larger explosive eruption occurred, probably of Volcanic Explosivity Index 7.This eruption created Las Cañadas, a large caldera, at just over 2,000 m altitude. The caldera is 15 km across east-west and 10 km north-south. At Guajara, on the south side of the structure, the internal walls rise as almost sheer cliffs from 2,100 m to 2,715 m. The 3,718 m summit of Teide itself, and its sister stratovolcano, Pico Viejo (3,134 m), are both situated in the northern half of the caldera, and derive from eruptions subsequent to this prehistoric explosion.

Further eruptions are considered likely in the future, including a risk of highly dangerous pyroclastic flows similar to those on Mount Pelée and Mount Vesuvius[citation needed]. From 2003, there has been an increase in seismic activity at the volcano, which may be indicative of magma rising into the edifice[citation needed].

Teide is unstable[citation needed] with a distinctive bulge on its northern flank. The bulge is believed to be constructed over the headwall scarp of the infilled Icod Valle, a massive landslide valley formed by edifice failure in a similar manner to that of the Guimar and Orotava Valle's. The summit of the volcano has a number of small active fumaroles emitting hot sulfur dioxide and other gases[citation needed].

Canary Island Pines in Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma
Canary Island Pines in Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma
Echium wildpretii on Tenerife
Echium wildpretii on Tenerife

The lava flows on the flanks of Teide weather to a very thin, but nutrient and mineral rich soil that supports a diverse amount of plant species. Vascular flora consists of 168 plant species, 33 of which are endemic to Tenerife.[18]

Forests of Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis) occur from 1000-2100 m, covering the middle slopes of the volcano, and having an alpine timberline 1000 m lower than that of continental mountains of similar latitude.[19] At higher altitudes, the Las Canadas caldera provides sufficient shelter for more fragile species such as the Canary Island cedar (Juniperus cedrus), and the Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) to grow.[20]

The most dominant plant species in the Teide National Park are the Teide white broom (Spartocytisus supranubius), which has a white and pink flower; the Canary Island wallflower (Erysimun scoparium), which has white and violet flowers; and the Teide bugloss (Echium wildpretii), whose red flowers form a pyramid up to 3m in height.[21] The Teide Daisy (Argyranthemum teneriffae) can be found at altitudes close to 3,600m above sea level. The Teide Violet (Viola cheiranthifolia) can be found right up to the summit of the volcano, making it the highest flowering plant in Spain.[22]

These plants are adapted to the tough environmental conditions on the volcano such as high altitude, intense sunlight, extreme temperature variations, and lack of moisture. Adaptations include acquiring semi-spherical forms, acquiring a downy or waxy cover, reducing the exposed leaf area, and having a high flower production. [20] [23] Flowering takes place in the late spring or early summer, in the months of May and June.[18]

The Teide National Park contains a huge range of invertebrate Fauna, over 40% of which are endemic species, with 70 species only being found in the National Park. The invertebrate fauna include spiders, beetles, dipterans, hemipternas, and hymenopterae.[24]

Southern Tenerife Lizard (Gallotia galloti galloti)
Southern Tenerife Lizard (Gallotia galloti galloti)

In contrast, Teide national park has only a limited variety of vertebrate fauna.[25] Ten species of bird nest in the park. These include the blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea teydea); Berthelot’s pipit (Anthus berthelotii berthelotii); the wild canary (Serinus canaria); and a species of kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis). [26] [27]

Three endemic reptile species are also found in the park – the Canary Island Lizard (Gallotia galloti galloti), the Canary Island wall gecko (Tarentola delalandii), and the Canary Island skink (Chalcides viridanus viridanus).[28] [29] The only mammals native to the Park are bats, the most common species of which is Leisler’s bat (Nycatalus leisleri). Other mammals such as the mouflon, the rabbit, the house mouse, the black rat, the feral cat, and the Algerian Hedgehog have all been introduced to the park. [30]

The volcano and its surrounds, including the whole of the Las Cañadas caldera, are protected in a national park, the Parque Nacional del Teide. Access is by a public road running across the caldera from northeast to southwest. The public bus service TITSA run a daily return service to Teide from both Puerto de la Cruz and Playa de las Americas. A parador (hotel) is also within the National Park along with a small chapel. A cable car (Teleférico Teide) goes from the roadside at 2,356 m most of the way to the summit, reaching 3,555 m. Access to the summit itself is restricted; a free permit (obtainable from the Park office in Santa Cruz, C/ Emilio Calzadilla, 5 - 4th floor) is required to climb the last 200 m.


Cable Car on Teide
Cable Car on Teide
The snow-capped summit of Teide in December 2004
The snow-capped summit of Teide in December 2004
Snow-capped Teide from the north, March 2006
Snow-capped Teide from the north, March 2006
Teide from the air
Teide from the air
The small church at the foot of the Mountain
The small church at the foot of the Mountain
Landscape of Parque Nacional del Teide
Landscape of Parque Nacional del Teide
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

  1. ^ a b Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Tenerife. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  2. ^ Scarth, Alwyn; Tanguy, Jean-Claude (2001). Volcanoes of Europe. Oxford University Press, 243 pp. ISBN 0-19-521754-3
  3. ^ Sheehan, William & Baum, Richard, Observation and inference: Johann Hieronymous Schroeter, 1745–1816, JBAA 105 (1995), 171
  4. ^ Schroeter, Johann Hieronymous, Selenotopographische Fragmente sur genauern Kenntniss der Mondfläche [vol. 1]. -- Lilienthal: auf Kosten des Verfassers, 1791
  5. ^ Guillou, H., Carracedo, J. C., Paris R. and Pérez Torrado, F.J., 2004a. K/Ar ages and magnetic stratigraphy of the Miocene-Pliocene shield volcanoes of Tenerife, Canary Islands: Implications for the early evolution of Tenerife and the Canarian Hotspot age progression. Earth & Planet. Sci. Letts., 222, 599-614.
  6. ^ Fúster, J.M., Araña, V., Brandle, J.L., Navarro, J.M., Alonso, U., Aparicio, A., 1968. Geology and volcanology of the Canary Islands: Tenerife. Instituto Lucas Mallada, CSIC, Madrid, 218 pp
  7. ^ a b Carracedo, Juan Carlos; Day, Simon (2002). Canary Islands (Classic Geology in Europe 4). Terra Publishing, 208 pp. ISBN 1-903544-07-6
  8. ^ a b c d e Carracedo, J. C., E. Rodriguez Badiola, H. Guillou, M. Paterne, S. Scaillet, F. J. Perez Torrado, R. Paris, U. Fra-Paleo and A. Hansen, 2006, Eruptive and structural history of the Teide Volcano and the rift zones of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Geological Society of America Bulletin
  9. ^ Paris, R, Guillou, H., Carracedo, JC and Perez Torrado, F.J., Volcanic and morphological evolution of La Gomera (Canary Islands), based on new K-Ar ages and magnetic stratigraphy:implications for oceanic island evolution, Journal of the Geological Society, May 2005, v.162; no.3; p.501-512
  10. ^ Carracedo, J.C., Pérez Torrado, F.J., Ancochea, E., Meco, J., Hernán, F., Cubas, C.R., Casillas, R., Rodríguez Badiola, E. and Ahijado, A., 2002. In: Cenozoic Volcanism II: the Canary Islands. The Geology of Spain (W. Gibbons and T. Moreno, eds), pp. 439–472. Geological Society, London
  11. ^ Martí, J., Mitjavila, J., Araña, V., 1994. Stratigraphy, structure and geochronology of the Las Cañadas Caldera (Tenerife, Canary Islands). Geol. Mag. 131: 715-727
  12. ^ Martí. J. and Gudmudsson, A., 2000. The Las Cañadas caldera (Tenerife, Canary Islands): an overlapping collapse caldera generated by magma-chamber migration. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 103: 167-173
  13. ^ Moore, J.G., 1964. Giant submarine landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 501-D, D95-D98
  14. ^ Carracedo, J.C., 1994. The Canary Islands: an example of structural control on the growth of large oceanic island volcanoes. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 60: 225-242
  15. ^ Guillou, H., Carracedo, J.C., Pérez Torrado, F. and Rodríguez Badiola, E., 1996. K-Ar ages and magnetic stratigraphy of a hotspot-induced, fast grown oceanic island : El Hierro, Canary Islands. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 73: 141-155
  16. ^ Stillman, C.J., 1999. Giant Miocene Landslides and the evolution of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 94, pp. 89–104
  17. ^ Masson, D.G., Watts, A.B., Gee, M.J.R., Urgelés, R., Mitchell, N.C., Le Bas, T.P., Canals, M., 2002. Slope failures on the flanks of the western Canary Islands, Earth-Sc. Reviews, 57: 1-35
  18. ^ a b Dupont, Yoko L., Dennis M., Olesen, Jens M., Structure of a plant-flower-visitor network in the high altitude sub-alpine desert of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Ecography. 26(3), 2003, pp. 301–310.
  19. ^ Gieger, Thomas and Leuschner, Christoph, Altitudinal change in needle water relations of Pinus canariensis and possible evidence of a drought-induced alpine timberline on Mt. Teide, Tenerife, Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 199(2), 2004, Pages 100-109y
  20. ^ a b J.M. Fernandez-Palacios, Climatic response of plant species on Tenerife, the Canary islands, J. Veg. Sci. 3, 1992, pp. 595–602
  21. ^ Tenerife National Park - Flora. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  22. ^ J.M. Fernandez-Palacios and J.P de Nicolas, Altitudinal pattern of vegetation variation on Tenerife, J. Veg. Sci. 6, 1995, pp. 183–190
  23. ^ C. Leuschner, Timberline and alpine vegetation on the tropical and warm-temperate oceanic islands of the world: elevation, structure and floristics, Vegetatio 123, 1996, pp. 193–206.
  24. ^ Tenerife National Park - Fauna. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  25. ^ Thorpe, R.S., McGregor, D.P., Cumming, A.M., and Jordan, W.C., DNA evolution and colonisation sequence of island lizards in relation to geological history: MTDNA RFLP, cytochrome B, cytochrome oxidase, 123 RRNA sequence, and nuclear RAPD analysis, evolution, 48(2), 1994, pp. 230-240
  26. ^ Lack, D., and H.N. Southern. 1949. Birds of Tenerife. Ibis, 91:607-626
  27. ^ P.R. Grant, Ecological compatibility of bird species on islands, Amer. Nat., 100(914) , 1966, pp. 451–462.
  28. ^ Lever, Christopher (2003). Naturalized Reptiles and Amphibians of the World, First, Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-850771-0. .
  29. ^ Thorpe, R.S., McGregor, D.P., Cumming, A.M., and Jordan, W.C., DNA evolution and colonisation sequence of island lizards in relation to geological history: MTDNA RFLP, cytochrome B, cytochrome oxidase, 123 RRNA sequence, and nuclear RAPD analysis, evolution, 48(2), 1994, pp. 230-240
  30. ^ Nogales, M., Rodríguez-Luengo, J.L. & Marrero, P. (2006) Ecological effects and distribution of invasive non-native mammals on the Canary Islands. Mammal Review, 36, 49–65

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