The Geological Context

Geodynamic Position

The Canarian archipelago, of which Tenerife is the largest island, is the one the world’s major oceanic volcanic groups. Along with the neighbouring island complexes of Madeira and Cape Verde, the Canaries occupy singular geodynamic position,  distant from any plate margin but in a zone of transition from oceanic to continental crust.

Site last updated May 2002 : r.middleton@hull.ac.uk