Puerto del Rosario

Puerto del Rosario (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpweɾto ðel roˈsaɾjo]) is a town and a municipality in the eastern part of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands. It has been the capital of Fuerteventura since 1860. The town's population is 29,160 (2013),[3] the administrative district's (municipio de Puerto del Rosario) population is 36,744 and its area is 289.95 km².

Puerto del Rosario
Municipality
The town at morning light
The town at morning light
Flag of Puerto del Rosario
Flag
Coat of arms of Puerto del Rosario
Coat of arms
Location of Puerto del Rosario
Coordinates: 28°30′N 13°52′W
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Canary Islands
ProvinceLas Palmas
IslandFuerteventura
Government
 • MayorMarcial Morales (CC)
Area
[1]
 • Total289.95 km2 (111.95 sq mi)
Elevation
(AMSL)
16 m (52 ft)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total39,382
 • Density140/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+0 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (CEST (GMT +1))
Postal code
35600
Area code+34 (Spain) + 928 (Las Palmas)
Websitewww.puertodelrosario.org/35017/paginas/asp/inicio.asp

History

Originally known as Puerto de Cabras (Port of the Goats), Puerto del Rosario was initially of little political importance on the island, living in the shadow of the ancient capital Betancuria. It had long been a fishing settlement and benefited from a sheltered natural harbour. The "Atlantic Navigator", written in 1854, describes the town then known as "Cabras" as "the main port", but goes on to describe it as an "insignificant place". The "Atlantic Navigator" describes the makeshift landing area for shipping as "indifferent", while calling the "beach of shingles" where ships anchor as "even worse".[4] It was this status as the "central port" of the island that saw it become the capital of the island in 1860, taking that honour from Antigua. The port was popular for shipping goats and this is where its original name came from. However, in 1957, it was decided that the name "Cabras" was not suitable. A more attractive name was selected and Puerto de Cabras was renamed Puerto del Rosario ("rosary port").

During the 1960s there was rural and urban migration from the smaller villages and farm areas of the island into Puerto del Rosario. The population grew in these years. Further population growth occurred in 1976 when, due to the decolonisation of the North African territories like the Spanish Sahara, the Spanish Foreign Legion made Puerto del Rosario their base.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Puerto del Rosario has a hot desert climate (BWh).[5]

See also: Fuerteventura § Climate
Climate data for Fuerteventura Airport 25m (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.5
(83.3)		 30.8
(87.4)		 34.0
(93.2)		 38.0
(100.4)		 36.8
(98.2)		 41.6
(106.9)		 43.0
(109.4)		 41.0
(105.8)		 37.9
(100.2)		 36.5
(97.7)		 34.8
(94.6)		 29.5
(85.1)		 43.0
(109.4)
Average high °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1)		 21.0
(69.8)		 22.2
(72.0)		 22.9
(73.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 25.8
(78.4)		 27.3
(81.1)		 27.8
(82.0)		 27.5
(81.5)		 26.1
(79.0)		 24.0
(75.2)		 22.0
(71.6)		 24.3
(75.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.6
(63.7)		 17.9
(64.2)		 18.9
(66.0)		 19.5
(67.1)		 20.6
(69.1)		 22.5
(72.5)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.4
(75.9)		 22.9
(73.2)		 20.9
(69.6)		 18.9
(66.0)		 21.1
(70.0)
Average low °C (°F) 14.7
(58.5)		 14.8
(58.6)		 15.5
(59.9)		 16.0
(60.8)		 17.1
(62.8)		 19.1
(66.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 21.5
(70.7)		 21.2
(70.2)		 19.8
(67.6)		 17.7
(63.9)		 15.9
(60.6)		 17.8
(64.0)
Record low °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)		 8.0
(46.4)		 8.0
(46.4)		 9.5
(49.1)		 11.6
(52.9)		 13.0
(55.4)		 14.0
(57.2)		 15.0
(59.0)		 15.0
(59.0)		 12.0
(53.6)		 10.5
(50.9)		 9.0
(48.2)		 8.0
(46.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 14
(0.6)		 16
(0.6)		 12
(0.5)		 5
(0.2)		 1
(0.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 2
(0.1)		 8
(0.3)		 13
(0.5)		 26
(1.0)		 97
(3.8)
Average rainy days 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 16
Average relative humidity (%) 68 69 68 65 66 67 69 71 72 73 71 71 69
Mean monthly sunshine hours 190 190 233 242 280 285 294 289 246 227 203 186 2,836
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[6]

Transport

There are regular ferry services to Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife with Naviera Armas. Fuerteventura Airport is situated near El Matorral, 6 km south of Puerto del Rosario.

  • Popular University. Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura)
    Popular University. Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura)
  • Bell tower of Santo Domingo de Guzmán church
    Bell tower of Santo Domingo de Guzmán church
Puerto del Rosario grew around its harbour and it still plays a crucial role in the town today for transport and trade

See also

References
  1. Instituto Canario de Estadística, area
  2. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  3. Instituto Canario de Estadística Archived 2014-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, population
  4. The Atlantic Navigator. J. Imray and son. 1854-01-01.
  5. http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/kottek_et_al_2006_A4.pdf
  6. "Valores climatológicos normales. Fuerteventura Aeropuerto".
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