Garajonay Park House, la Gomera Island

La Gomera is a small island of 370km2, with 17,000 inhabitants. This is a former volcano, which is 2 million years old. Erosion deeply undercut it slopes, which are streaked with deep ravines, also called the "Barrancos".

Part of the UNESCO world heritage since 1986, the park covers 10% of the Gomera island. It is located between 800 and 1487m altitude. 85% of the park is covered with forest, contrasting with the aridity of a large part of the other Canary Islands.

This is due to the island particular climate : high humidity, frequent smog, condensing in little droplets.

The vegetation is of two types :

• Laurel trees in the shaded and wet areas (called in latin Lauresylve)
• The "fayal brezal" are ferns, often than 2 meters high, forming bushes in more dry and poorer places.

These forests are a relic of the Mediterranean primitive forests dating from several million years and which have persisted on islands because their particular climate.