Hidden dunes found near volcanoes in Tenerife: where to look and how to protect them.
In Tenerife, near El Médano, there are unique dunes near volcanic hills, particularly near Montaña Pelada (Bald Mountain), which need protection from excessive tourism.
Everyone knows about the dunes in the Canary Islands, especially Maspalomas. But few people realize that Tenerife also has its own dunes, although not as large. They are located near El Médano, where the wind from the ocean constantly moves the sand near the volcanic hills.
Between the Red Mountain (Montaña Roja) and, especially, the Bald Mountain (Montaña Pelada), a small treasure of nature is hidden, which is worth a closer look.
A dune is a sandy hill created by the wind. It picks up sand from the shore and carries it inland. Plants that have adapted to life in the sand trap sand particles, and this is how dunes are formed.
This is a constantly changing system, not a frozen picture. The most famous dunes in the Canary Islands, Maspalomas, confirm this: they move approximately 5-6 meters per year, and sometimes even 10 meters. Wind and people force them to gradually move to the southwest.
The name "El Médano" means "dune," and this is no coincidence. On the coast of Granadilla de Abona, sandy dunes have been preserved, which were formed near volcanoes. The Red Mountain Special Nature Reserve protects the largest dunes and sandy beaches. And a few kilometers away is the Bald Mountain, where you can see a more peaceful landscape that many people simply do not notice.
The Bald Mountain is a natural monument with an area of over 150 hectares. There are bays with fine volcanic sand and ancient dunes that formed at the foot of the volcanic crater.
It is like an open-air lesson where you can see how the sea, wind, and volcanic tuff have worked together for many centuries.
The beach near the Bald Mountain is so inviting to set up camp there, but this is prohibited. There are rules in place to protect nature, so camping, driving cars, and making fires are prohibited. You can even be fined for this.
El Médano is becoming increasingly popular, especially on social media, and this is creating a great burden on the coast. People occupy sensitive areas, leave garbage, and this harms nature.
Therefore, small dunes, such as those near the Bald Mountain, are particularly vulnerable. What to do? Do not set up camp, walk only on the trails, do not step on the dunes and the plants that grow there, and do not publish exact locations so as not to attract crowds of people there.
Famous places help us learn about the island, but in their shadow there are smaller, but no less beautiful landscapes that need our protection. On Tenerife, the coast of El Médano, with the Bald Mountain, reminds us that dunes are not only on other islands.