Garajonay National Park

Garajonay National Park covers the center and north of La Gomera in Spain's Canary Islands, extending across all six of the island's municipalities. It was declared a national park in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, protecting about 40 square kilometers of laurel forest and volcanic rock formations that rise to 1,487 meters at the Garajonay summit, with a small plateau between 790 and 1,400 meters. The rock formations, remnants of old volcanic structures shaped by erosion, hold cultural significance to the island's native people as sacred sites and historical refuges. The park draws nearly 450,000 visitors a year, many of them hiking its network of 18 footpaths.