Are There Canaries in the Canary Islands?

Where Are The Canary Islands? First, locate the continent of Africa on the map. Now look for the northwest coast of Africa. The Canary Islands are a group of volcanic islands about 65 miles off the coast of Northwest Africa. Canary Islands

How Were The Islands Formed? The islands were formed by volcanos erupting on the ocean floor. Ocean water cooled the lava, turning it into rock. Eventually the rock built up until islands were formed.

Names Of The Islands The principal islands in the group are: La Palma Tenerife La Gomera El Hierro

How The Islands Got Their Name The islands were named by a man called Pliny the Elder. He was an ancient Roman historian who studied and wrote about nature. Pliny the Elder Elder

Pliny the Elder named the islands: Insulae Canariae, or “Islands of the Dogs,” because of the many large dogs that lived there. Native Canary Dog

The name The canary was eventually passed on to the wild finches native to the islands.

Summary The Canary Islands are a group of volcanic islands about 65 miles off the coast of Northwest Africa. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder named the islands. The islands were called “Islands of the Dogs,” because of the many large dogs that lived there. The name canary was eventually passed on to the wild finches native to the islands.

Feeling smart? Take this quiz:

The Canary Islands are located northwest of what large continent? Answer: Africa

How were the Canary Islands formed? Answer: The islands were formed by volcanos erupting on the ocean floor.

Who was the Roman historian who named the Canary Islands? A) Pliny the Elder B) Pliny the Younger Answer: A) Pliny the Elder

True or False: The Canary Islands were originally named for the large dogs that lived there. Answer: True

True or false: The name canary was eventually passed on to the wild turkeys native to the islands. Answer: False The name canary was eventually passed on to the wild finches native to the islands

Well done! (You are smart.)

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