Today’s article will be about the beautiful oceans that surround the island of Tenerife.
In this article we will discuss the oceans around Tenerife, the animals & plants that reside there, the ecosystems of the ocean, & how climate change & rising sea levels are affecting it. Tenerife is a beautiful island that needs to be conserved, now let us dive into the oceans of Tenerife.
The Oceans Surrounding Tenerife
The oceans surrounding Tenerife are diverse yet beautiful waters. Tenerife is the largest island of the Spanish Canary Islands. It is 99.7793 kilometers (62.1371 miles) off of the coast of Western Sahara. It sits in the Atlantic, which makes the salt concentration significantly higher. The oceans look surreal making Tenerife look like a dreamland. The waters are clear which makes Tenerife a more desirable destination for tourists. The waters are relatively warm & tropical. The yearly average water temperature for the coastal water is 21.30° celsius (70.34° fahrenheit). The tourists are relatively respectful of the coastal sea making the water some of the cleanest water in our oceans. Tenerife’s waters are very safe for swimming with stunning beaches that will leave you mesmerized. Pollution is minimized & the air quality is great for residents considering the high density of tourism. The waters are perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving, & kayaking. Some parts of the water can reach depths of 600 meters to 800 meters (1968.5 feet to 2624.67 feet) below the surface. However there is reason to believe an oceanic cave system spans up to 3,780 meters (12,401.57 feet) below the surface. The waters are calm, mostly shallow, & home to very many marine animals. As of 2022 there seems to be no strong currents surrounding the island from what researchers can tell. However this does not mean one couldn’t form within the next few years. There are no volcanoes on or near the island. The risk for tsunamis is quite slim. The best beaches on Tenerife are as follows: 1. Playa De Las Teresitas 2. Playa La Tejita 3. Playa De Los Gigantes 4. Playa La Bollullo, La Orotava 5. Playa Jardín, Puetro De La Cruz 6. Playa Del Duque, Costa Adeje 7. Playa La De Vistas 8. Playa De Las Americas 9. Playa De Fañabé & 10. Troya Beach.
The Marine Animals & Plants That Reside In The Oceans Near & Around Tenerife
The oceans surrounding Tenerife are home to thousands of types of marine life. Tenerife has many different species of plants & animals reside in this area of the ocean which is why we must not pollute it. Now let us dive into some of these amazing creatures.
Marine Animals
Marine animals come plentifully into Tenerife due to the tropical waters & calm winds. This also makes it a popular area for animals to breed & give birth. A list of animals that are known to do that include: Short-finned pilot whales,
Mediterranean monk seals, sperm whales, killer whales, common dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, blue whales, bottle-nosed dolphins, atlantic striped dolphins, humpback whales, angel sharks, manta rays, dusky groupers, cuvier’s beaked whale, basking sharks, green turtles, parrot fish, a wide assortment of sea stars, & marine turtles. Thankfully the ecosystems are relatively preserved & healthy. Many organizations are working to preserve our oceans such as but not limited to: Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Oceana, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Take-3, Green Peace, The Five Gyres Institute, Oceanic Preservation Society, The Environmental Defense Fund, Ric O’Barrys Dolphin Project, Pretoma, & The Natural Resources Defense Council. We still don’t exactly know why animals migrate to Tenerife yearly. However, salinity has a large effect on animals. It could cause behavioral changes, distribution changes, & even cause differences in life cycles. This could mean a higher concentration changes the migration patterns. A few animals that have shown patterns of migration are: humpback whales, killer whales, sperm whales, & blue whales. If you would like to see some of these majestic marine mammals yourself, Turtle Bay/El Puertito is the best snorkeling experience on the island. However it is advised to approach with caution for jellyfish, with stings that can cause neurological damage, enjoy the island as well.
Marine Plants
Marine vegetation is just as important as marine animals if not more so. There is a plethora of different marine plants that live around Tenerife. As of 2022 the marine flora of the island is composed of 711 known species 59 cyanophycota, 385 rhodophycota, 125 chromophycota, 117 chlorophycota, 3 seagrasses and 22 fungi. Unfortunately, there are no known kelp forests off the coast of Tenerife or any other one of the Spanish Canary Islands. The higher salt concentration could be a contributing factor or the sole factor for this. Another reason is the tropical waters meaning that less oxygen is in the water. From our current knowledge of the island there does not seem to be any marine plant, marine fungi, or marine flora that are endemic to Tenerife. The closest coral reef system is El Simplon reef. It ranges from being 12 meters below the surface to 20 (40 to 65.7 feet).
The Oceanic Ecosystems Of Tenerife
There are 2 main ecosystems that surround Tenerife, those ecosystems being coral shelf & coastal area. Coral shelf is mostly coral reef & open ocean while coastal waters are shallow & contain mostly invertebrates.
Coastal Areas
The Coastal Areas Of Tenerife Are Mostly Tidal & Shallow Waters. Most Of Tenerife’s Marine Invertebrates Live Here A Few Of Those Being, Crabs, Urchins, Clams, & On Rare Occasion Jellyfish. This Area Consists Of Tidal Pools & Not Very Much Else.
Coral Shelf
Coral shelf is the outer ecosystem of the island. It consists of coral reefs, open ocean, & is much further offshore. Coral shelf is also typically much more vibrant & is the most diverse out of all of the marine ecosystems surrounding the island. Much larger creatures live in this ecosystem such as whales, sea turtles, & a wide assortment of dolphins. The coral shelf is also the area most snorkeling takes place in. This area also has a much lower salt concentration than the coastal areas. This could be due to the buildup of salt in the water.
How Climate Change & Rising Water Levels Is Affecting The Oceanic Ecosystems Of Tenerife
Climate change has affected many islands in their own special ways but it has affected Tenerife especially. When Tenerife was formed it was formed quite similarly to Catalina Island in the way it was made, slanting downwards rather then upwards. Due to climate change & rising water levels Tenerife is slowly being pulled underwater. & marine biologists predict that within the next 80 years the water levels will rise by 81 centimeters (31 inches/2.5 feet). Going by that rate in 487,520 years Tenerife will be completely submerged in water.
Our Conclusion
Tenerife’s ecosystems are unique & diverse places that should not be disturbed. We should advance our knowledge on rising water levels in order to prepare in the event Tenerife does get pulled into the ocean. We should do more studies into why the coastal waters have higher salinity levels. This could help us with figuring out migration patterns of certain animals. We also should consider planting more coral as coral is becoming scarce in our world’s oceans. We should listen to what our oceanic organizations tell us about climate change more often.
Tenerife is a beautiful diverse environment that should be preserved & protected by any company or entity that attempts to disturb the current marine ecosystem.
Gallery
Strategic Partnerships
Reel Guppy Outdoors
Our Loyal Patrons
Ms. Ochoa
References
A checklist of the marine plants from the Canary Islands by María Candelaria Gil-Rodríguez, Ricardo Haroun, & Maria Candelaria.
Comments