Natural Monuments
Monumento Natural Barranco de Fasnia y Güímar
Description
This 8-km long protected ravine, which runs from an elevation of 1200 m down to Topuerque beach on the coast, is a perfect example of a geomorphological feature of the south of the island.
The ravine has significant landscape value, a wide variety of habitats and a plethora of plants that grow on the rocks and walls of the ravine in the almost total absence of soil.
Recommended time to visit: After the rains.
Geology
The ravine is carved deep into the landscape, its sides rising steeply throughout its winding course, with plenty of sheer cliffs. This morphology provides valuable clues to the geological formation of the southern slopes of Tenerife.
The ravine ends in an area of rocks dragged down the ravine bed by rain runoff and, beyond that, a pebble beach.
As it is such a steep-sided ravine, access to it is difficult, but at the same time, this makes it easier to protect.
Flora and fauna
The considerable change in elevation means that the ravine contains all vegetation levels, from pine forest to coastal plant life.
At the head of the ravine, we find Canary Island pine and associated understorey species. As the ravine descends, residual patches of laurel forest appear, along with species such as mocán (Visneamocanera) and tree heath (Erica arborea).
Further down you will find typical thermophilic forest specimens such as sabina (Juniperus turbinata ssp. canariensis), acebuche (Olea cerasiformis), marmulano (Sideroxyloncanariense) and the rare cerraja de Güímar (Sonchus gummifer).
In the middle sections there are communities of tabaibamajorera (Euphorbia atropurpurea).
And finally, the lower reaches are populated by tabaibal-cardonal (Euphorbia communities) as far as the mouth of the ravine, which is occupied by halophyte species typical of the coastal belt such as lechuga de mar (Astydamia latifolia), uvilla (Tetraenafontanesii), tomillo de mar (Frankenia capitata) and siempreviva (Limonium pectinatum).
Rock-dwelling species include tomillo de costa (Micromeriateneriffae), colderrisco de Güímar (Crambe arborea) and balillotinerfeño del sur (Sonchus microcarpus), all three endemic to the south of Tenerife, and romeromarino (Campylanthussalsoloides) and corona de la reina (Gonospermumfruticosum), both endemic to the Canary Islands.
This variety of flora is mirrored by the fauna, both vertebrate and invertebrate.
Birds are the most abundant vertebrates, and include the sparrowhawk, great spotted woodpecker, blue chaffinch, goldcrest, barn owl, long-eared owl, Berthelot’s pipit, chiffchaff, grey wagtail and Scopoli’s shearwater.
You may also spot the three native species of bats, Canary long-eared bat, Madeira pipistrelle, and European free-tailed bat; and three species of reptile, Tenerife gecko, Tenerife lizard and Tenerife skink.
Technical information sheet
Surface area
152.1 ha (0.07% of the island).
Species of interest
Canary Island pine, mocán (Visneamocanera), tree heath (Erica arborea), sabina (Juniperus turbinatassp. canariensis), acebuche (Olea cerasiformis), marmulano (Sideroxyloncanariense), cerraja de Güímar (Sonchus gummifer), tabaibamajorera (Euphorbia atropurpurea), tabaiba dulce (Euphorbia balsamifera), cardón or Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), lechuga de mar (Astydamia latifolia), uvilla (Tetraenafontanesii), tomillo de mar (Frankenia capitata), siempreviva (Limonium pectinatum), tomillo de costa (Micromeriateneriffae), colderrisco de Güímar (Crambe arborea), balillotinerfeño del sur (Sonchus microcarpus), corona de la reina (Gonospermumfruticosum), romeromarino (Campylanthussalsoloides), sparrowhawk, great spotted woodpecker, blue chaffinch, goldcrest, barn owl, long-eared owl, Berthelot’s pipit, chiffchaff, grey wagtail, Scopoli’s shearwater, Canary long-eared bat, Madeira pipistrelle, European free-tailed bat, Tenerife gecko, Tenerife lizard, Tenerife skink.
Ecosystems
Pine forest, monteverde, thermophilic, cardonal-tabaibal (Euphorbia), coastal, rocky.
Places of interest
Ravine head, Topuerque beach.
Regulations
To consult permits for use and updated regulations for this Protected Natural Area, visit the official website of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Municipalities
- Fasnia
- Güímar
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