The rock pillar
On the plateau.
Hibiscus7 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Papm1949 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · H. Zell — CC BY 3.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0
Roque Nublo is a huge volcanic rock in the centre of Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands, in the municipality of Tejeda, about 24 km southwest of Las Palmas in a straight line. Its name means «rock in the clouds». The rock itself is 80 metres tall, and its top stands 1,813 metres above sea level, making it the third highest point on the island. It was formed by a volcanic eruption about 4.5 million years ago and lies within the 260 square kilometre Nublo Rural Park, surrounded by other rock formations such as the Roque del Fraile and La Rana, «the frog». The tall brown rock pillar stands alone on a bare rocky plateau, ringed by Canary pine forest and deep winding ravines. On clear days Mount Teide on Tenerife appears above a sea of clouds on the horizon, and sometimes mist wraps the rock itself, living up to its name. Visitors follow a short trail from the road to the foot of the rock, climbing between pines and boulders. It can be cool and windy up high even when the coast is warm, and early morning and sunset are the best times before the crowds.
On the plateau.
Above the clouds.
Nearby.
Nublo Rural Park, Tejeda, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
A short trail from the road.
A jacket for wind and cold.