Historical background of fog water collection studies in the Canary Islands

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511778384.039

37 - Historical background of fog water collection studies in the Canary Islands

from Part III - Hydrometeorology of tropical montane cloud forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2011

Edited by

F. N. Scatena and

M. V. Marzol-Jaén: Affiliation:
University of La Laguna, Spain
L. A. Bruijnzeel: Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena: Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton: Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York

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Summary

ABSTRACT

This chapter constitutes a bibliographic compilation regarding cloud occurrence and fog water collection in the Canary Islands, ranging from legendary stories of water collection from the famous “fountain tree” on the island of El Hierro, to current research on the role of fog in the water budget of laurisilva and fayal-brezal forests. Fog water was a very important resource for the early inhabitants of the islands and allows the presence of evergreen forests in areas with low annual rainfall and a long dry summer season.

INTRODUCTION

The Canary Islands have aroused interest from the classical age onward for various reasons (Martínez, 1992; Hernández, 1998). First of all because of their insularity; then because of their main mountain (the Teide volcano on Tenerife, 3718 m.a.s.l.); from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century because of their “fountain tree”; and nowadays because of their suitable weather conditions and special flora. One of the stories that generated the most curiosity and led to many descriptions is that of the Garoé tree – also known as the “holy tree,” the “fountain tree,” or the “tree of life,” as Saint Isidore of Seville called it.

Type: Chapter
Information: Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
, pp. 352 - 358

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511778384.039 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2011

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