San Cristóbal de La Laguna
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| San Cristóbal de La Laguna | |
| Map | |
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| Statistics | |
| Autonomous region: | Canary Islands |
| Province: | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Island: | Tenerife |
| Area: | 102.06 km² some reads 102.69 km² |
| Population: | 137,314 (2004) |
| Population density: | 1,345.42/km² |
| Elevation: | Atlantic Ocean 546 m 980 m (Pico del Inglés) |
| Length of coastline: | 28.24 km |
| Postal code: | E-38200 |
| Location: | 28.4667/28°28' N lat. 16.31667/16°19' W long. |
| Municipal code: | E-38023 |
| Car designation: | TF |
| Name of inhabitants: | Laguneros |
| Website: | www.aytolalaguna.com |
| Politics | |
| Mayor: | Fernando Clavijo (CC) 2nd term |
| San Cristóbal de La Laguna* | |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party |  Spain |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Reference | 929 |
| Region** | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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San Cristóbal de La Laguna (La Laguna for short, Spanish for "The Lagoon") is a city and municipality of the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province, on the Canary Islands. It is in the northern part of the Tenerife island. The city is also a suburban area of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
It is home to the University of La Laguna which is home to 30,000 students; these are not included in the population figures for the city. La Laguna is considered to be the cultural capital of Canaries. Also there is in the habit of being calling he a "City of the Anticipated ones", for having been the first university city of the archipelago.
Its economy is business-oriented while agriculture dominates the northeastern portion of the city. The urban area dominates the central and the southern parts. Tourism covers the northern coast. The main industry includes some manufacturing. The industrial area is made up of the main subdivisions of Majuelos, Las Torres de Taco, Las Mantecas and Las Chumberas. In this city one finds the legendary house of Catalina Lercaro's spectrum, as well as the incorrupt body of Sister Maria de Jesus, and the Christ of La Laguna (Cristo de La Laguna). Another emblematic building of the city is the Cathedral of La Laguna, which is the catholic cathedral of Tenerife and his diocese (Diocese of Tenerife).
La Laguna's historical center was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. Starting en 2003 the municipality started an ambitious Urban Plan to renew this area, that was carried out by the firm AUC S.L. (Arquitectura Urbanismo y Cooperación).
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[edit] Etymology
At first the place where the town was called "Aguere" by the aboriginal Guanches (the name is still used in the literature). Later he founded the city as "Villa de San Cristóbal de La Gran Laguna" (in memory of a pond or lake that was in place). Later he established the San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and today is known simply as "La Laguna" (the lake).
[edit] Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted by Queen Juana of Castile on 23 March 1510, as arms of the island of Tenerife. The town of La Laguna, being the capital of the island during the first times after the Conquest, adopted this emblem as its own. It features an island with a volcano spitting fire, on waves, between a castle and a lion, and above the Archangel Saint Michael, holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. In the border, the inscription Michael Arcangele Veni in Adjutorium Populo Dei Thenerife Me Fecit. These elements symbolize the incorporation of the island of Tenerife to the Crown of Castile and its evangelization under the patronage of Saint Michael.
[edit] Subdivisions
- La Verdellada
- Viña Nava
- El Coromoto
- San Benito
- El Bronco
- La Cuesta
- Taco
- Tejina
- Valleguerra
- Bajamar
- Punta del Hidalgo
- Geneto
- Los Baldios
- Guamasa
- El Ortigal
- Las Mercedes
- El Batan
- Las Carboneras
- San Diego
- Las Gavias
[edit] Climate
 Weather averages for San Cristóbal de La Laguna  |
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 16 (61) |
17 (63) |
18 (64) |
18 (64) |
20 (68) |
22 (72) |
24 (75) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
22 (72) |
20 (68) |
17 (63) |
20 (68) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 11 (52) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
11 (52) |
12 (54) |
14 (57) |
16 (61) |
17 (63) |
17 (63) |
16 (61) |
14 (57) |
12 (54) |
13 (55) |
| Precipitation cm (inches) | 5.12 (2) |
4.09 (1.6) |
4.47 (1.8) |
2.54 (1) |
1.22 (0.5) |
0.53 (0.2) |
0.49 (0.2) |
0.42 (0.2) |
1.09 (0.4) |
3.59 (1.4) |
5.55 (2.2) |
5.75 (2.3) |
34.86 (13.7) |
| Source: MSN Weather[1] | |||||||||||||
[edit] History
The city was founded between 1496 and 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo and was the capital of the islanda after the conclusion of the conquest of the islands. The coastal area was later raided by pirates. The University of La Laguna was founded in 1701.
A declining population and economy in the 18th century resulted in the moving of the capital to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1723. Santa Cruz has since been the capital of the island of Tenerife.
The Tenerife North Airport at Los Rodeos was opened in the 1930s and is today expanding with low cost airlines using it.
It was declared a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999. Several streets of historical significance have been closed off due to automobile traffic.
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| March 1, 1991 | 110,895 | - |
| May 1, 1996 | 121.769 | - |
| November 1, 2001 | 128,822 | 1,262.96/km² |
| 2002 | 135,004 | - |
| 2003 | 134,004 | - |
| 2004 | 137,314 | 1,337.17/km² |
[edit] Folklores
La Laguna is home to some of the best folklore in the Canary Islands, and the most famous folklorists are Los Sabandeños. La Laguna has created 59 folklore groups in and around La Laguna.
[edit] Sisters cities
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
[edit] People
- José de Anchieta (March 19, 1534–June 9, 1597), important in the early colonial history of Brazil
- Juan Núñez de la Peña (1641–1721), a Spanish historian
- Juan Domingo de Monteverde (1773–1832), military man
- Oscar Domínguez (January 9, 1906 - December 31, 1957 in Paris, a Spanish painter and a surrealist, an inventor of decalcomania
[edit] Places
 Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna |
 Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna, inside |
 Convento de Santa Clara des Asís |
 Convento de Santa Catalina de Siena |
 Casa Alvarado Bracamonte |
 Casa Alvarado Bracamonte, Patio |
 Casa de Montañés, Patio |
 Instituto de Canarias Cabrera Pinto |
 Iglesia de La Concepción |
 Iglesia de La Concepción |
 San Cristóbal de La Laguna in 1880 |
[edit] See also
| North: Atlantic Ocean | ||
| West: Atlantic Ocean | San Cristóbal de La Laguna | East: Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Southwest: Tacoronte | South: El Rosario | |
| The municipality surrounds Tegueste | ||
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tenerife#La Laguna |
- http://www.aytolalaguna.com
- Organismo Autónomo de Deportes de La Laguna, featuring informationa about activities, installations, news, etc. (in Spanish)
- Map of San Cristóbal de la Laguna
- Map and aerial photos
- Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint or Google
- Satellite images: Google
- Coordinates: 28°29′0″N 16°18′0″W / 28.48333°N 16.3°W
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