| Jameos del Agua : Lava Caves and Salt Lake |
 |
 |
Jameos del Agua · Volcanic Galleries with subterranean Salt Lake, Gardens with Pool and Auditorium, designed by César Manrique
In the north of Lanzarote - in the "Malpaís de la Corona" there are volcanic galleries and caverns with exceptionally characteristics. This area was formed by spectacular volcanic eruptions from the volcanic mountain "Volcán de la Corona" which built subterranean huge tubes and caves on the way right down to the ocean. This process started already four thousand years ago. In these subterranean natural "buildings" the Cabildo de Lanzarote (the island government) decided to prepare one of the very interest places to go for sightseeing on Lanzarote - created together with the famous Lanzarote artist César Manrique. (Exact location see map below)
  Entrance and coffee terrace down in the first grotto.
 View into the volcanic cavern which is connected with the ocean This place is open for visitors since the year 1966. The word "Jameos" probably comes from the antique old language and it refers to a cavity produced when the roof of a volcanic cave collapses. To enter the Jameos del Agua we have to go down rocky steps to the first large "room" under the earth - open to the sky - and the place for the coffee bar and restaurant with its terrace and views to a lower level into the cave to the subterranean lake.
We will feel the calmness and will smell the humidity of this place which make us fee a part of this nature. The vegetation and the experimental background music emphasise the atmosphere.  The salt lake in the cave, where the tiny white crabs live... On our way more down we discover the lake which has salty but very clear water and is the place for tiny white blind crabs to live - which normally use to live in deeper sea more than 2000 meters of depth. The level of this lake depends on the different tides of the ocean, from where the water filters through the volcanic tunnels and caves created by the eruptions thousands of years ago. On the small pathway along this lake we pass through the volcanic cavern and have to climb up some rocky stairs and volcanic terraces - with tables, dancing erea, bars and toilets - to reach the second "Jameos" - a wide open-air area which presents us a fantastic bright white swimming pool. This pool nowadays is not in use but was designed by César Manrique perfectly in the volcanic and rocky surrounding as a contrast. A lovely path invites us to walk around this swimming pool looking at the flora and plants growing between the rocks and around the pool:
On the end of this Jameos, beyond the pool, there is a subterranean auditorium which is a fantastic volcano cave where about 600 people can enjoy its natural acoustics while concerts and ballets or other cultural activities will take place. The cave has now been renovated and made much more secure since more than 5 years (the static of the volcanic roof and the water density had to be made better and safer) and the government now has opened this auditorium to visitors again in April 2009.
 The subterranean auditorium (Photo was taken before restoring). Terrace and beer garden: From visiting this natural subterranean auditorium we have to climb up another natural stairs and will finally reach some terraces on the surface to order a beer, coffee or other drinks to relax and to enjoy the views down to the swimming pool and overlooking the large "Jameos" we came from.
Then we have the opportunity to visit the "Casa de los Volcanes" - a world-wide known scientific centre devoted to volcanic studies. It is very interesting to walk through the rooms showing us lots of information of the Canary Islands and Lanzarote and the volcanic erruptions and activities under sea level. Also there are instruments and computers to measure activities of eruption nowadays. At the end - before reaching the parking area - we may buy some gifts in a small gift shop to remember our visit in this spectacular tourist centre of Lanzarote.   
|
