XII. Some account of the Island ofTencr'iffe. 

 By the Hon. Henry Grey BenneTj M.P. F.R.S. Pres. Geological Society. 



T, 



HE island of TenerifFe is the principal island of the seven in 

 the Western Ocean, that are called generally by the name of the 

 Canaries. It lies north-east by south-west, and is in length from 

 the Punta del Hidalgo to the Montana Roxa^ its northern and 

 southern extremities, about 70 English miles ; its greatest breadth 

 not exceeding 30. The superficies may be considered as containing 

 80 square leagues. 



The island narrows at its north-eastern and widens considerably at 

 its south-western extremity. About the centre of the latter, or per- 

 haps to describe more accurately, to the westward of the central 

 point, is the mountain called by the Spaniards el Pico di Tiede^ but 

 better known by the name of the Peak of Teneriffe^ and which is 

 the highest land not only in the island, but in all the Canaries ; the 

 mean of various observations making it 12,500 feet above the level 

 of the sea. It is visible at a great distance ; we saw it perfectly dis- 

 tinct thirty-four leagues off by chronometrical observation, when it 

 appeared rising like a cone from the bed of the ocean ; and I have 

 heard that it has been clearly distinguished at a distance of 45 leagues. 



The rocks and strata of the Island of TenerifFe are wholly vol- 

 canic ; a long chain of mountains, which may be termed the central 

 chain, traverses the island from the foot of the second region of the 



