Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is located in the Canary Islands of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean, about 150 kilometers from the African coast and 1,350 km from the main island of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the provincial capital of Las Palmas and the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
The city covers an area of 100.55 square kilometers and has a population of 380,000, making it the largest city in the Canary Islands.
The city has a pleasant marine climate, with mild spring-like weather all year round. The average temperature is 17 degrees Celsius in winter and 25 degrees Celsius in summer.
The Las Palmas International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city's downtown area. The airport, which has 50 airline companies operating within, is one of the busiest in Spain and has an annual passenger throughput of 10 million. The city is a 2.5-hour flight from the main island of Iberia and a 4-hour flight from major European cities.
The city was founded on June 24, 1478 by Juan Rejón and the Castilian army after their joined forces defeated the indigenous Guanches. In 1492, Columbus stopped there on his first trip to the Americas and again on his way back to Spain. The city's Casa Colon Museum was named after him.
The city's most important festival, the San Juan Festival, is held on June 24 every year to celebrate its founding.
Today, Las Palmas is an international city that hosts many festivals for music, dance, drama and film. There are also several theaters, concert halls, libraries and museums. In addition, the island is home to 40 consulate generals from Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia.
The Port of Las Palmas, also known as the Port of La Luz, is the most important port in the Mediterranean-North African region. It is the fifth largest port in Spain and the 15th in Europe in terms of throughput, and is connected with 380 ports around the world via 30 international routes.
The pillar industry in Las Palmas, which is home to famous beaches such as Las Canteras and Las Alcaravaneras, is tourism.
