Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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| Santa Cruz de Tenerife | |
| Map | |
|---|---|
| Image:TF SantaCruzdeTF.png | |
| Statistics | |
| Autonomous region: | Canary Islands |
| Province: | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Island: | Tenerife |
| Area: | 150.56 km² some reads 150.54 km² |
| Population: | 219,446 (2004) |
| Population density: | 1,457.33/km² |
| Elevation: | 325 m |
| Postal code: | E-38003 |
| Location: | 28.4667/28°28' N lat. 16.26/16°15' W long. |
| Municipal code: | E-38038 |
| Name of inhabitants: | Santacruceros or Chicarreros |
| Car designation: | TF
|
| Politics | |
| Mayor: | Miguel Zerolo Aguilar (CC) |
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2003 population 220,022) is a Spanish city on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.
It is the capital of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and a co-capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. The municipality is the northernmost and the easternmost in the island and only the easternmost in the province.
The city is a seaport and a subtropical resort, offering its impressive scenery and mild sub-tropical climate to visitors.
The port also exports products of the Canaries such as vegetables, tobacco, tomatoes and bananas. The port is also one of the major stations in the cruisers' rout from northern Europe to the Caribbean.
Contents |
Historical population
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 200,172 | - |
| 1996 | 203,787 | - |
| 2001 | 188,477 | 1,453.28/km² |
| 2002 | 217,414 | - |
| 2003 | 220,022 | 1,461.36/km² |
| 2004 | 219,466 | 1,457.33/km² |
Image:SanAndrés2.JPG Image:Santa Cruz de Tenerife Auditorium.jpg
In 1990, the population slowly boomed above the 200,000 mark but fell in the late-1990s but returned in 2002 and head to a record level in the 2003 census but the 2004 population saw a minor slowdown.
Subdivisions
There are five administrative subdivisions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Anaga, Centro - Las Colinas, Salud - La Salle, Ofra - Costa Sur and Suroeste. You can learn more about Santa Cruz de Tenerife´s subdivisions in [1] (Spanish). After recent national legislation (Major Cities Act), each district has a local citizen participation committee ("Tagoror") where representatives of the differente political parties and residents' associations have some influence in municipal policies in their district.
Economy
The economy of Santa Cruz relies mainly on services. Trade, import-export, the seaport and the presence of the major political and finantial institutions, as well as the most important companies, guarantee a strong economic activity. The building sector is also quite relevant, while industry, apart from the oil reffinery, is very minoritary.
A good example of the extraordinary growth Santa Cruz experienced during the 60s and 70s is the unusual circunstance of having a major oil refinery sited in what today is the border of the city centre. Awareness of the dangers in case of a major disaster should there be an accident at the plant have caused the local planning authorities to order the moving of the entire complex to other parts of the island within the next 10. Nontheless, this is a good example both of the extreme population and economig growth experienced by the Canary Islands and the environmental problems arisen from growth.
History
The area was known to the Guanches, the first inhabitants of the island, as Añazo. Later, it became one of the most important ports of the Atlantic and the Canary Islands, a position it retains to this day. The rise of this former fishermen village happened after a Volcano destroyed the port of Garachico in the XVIII century. Santa Cruz became the major port of the Island. It acquired first independence from La Laguna and, in the 19th century, was awarded the status of Capital of the Canary Islands province by king Ferdinand VII.
Naval history
Due to the strategic location of Tenerife on the route between the Mediterranean and the Americas, it was attacked a number of times by the English and the Dutch. In particular, Santa Cruz Bay was the scene of two notable naval engagements involving two of the most famous British admirals.
In 1656, Admiral Robert Blake totally destroyed a Spanish silver fleet of 16 ships for the loss of one of his own, despite being under fire from shore batteries and attacking and withdrawing on the tide. 50 years later, the British under John Genings were defeated when they attacked the island on November 6, 1706 during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Lord Nelson lost his right arm in a later failed attack in the same bay on July 25 1797. The military Museum of Santa Cruz preserves arms, uniforms, items, the cease-fire treaty and the cannon that blew Lord Nelson's arm.
Politics
Mayors during the present democratic period:
- Manuel Hermoso Rojas (1979 - 1987)
- José Emilio García Gómez (1987 - 1995)
- Miguel Zerolo Aguilar (CC) (current incumbent, since 1995)
Sites of interest
Attractions
- Calle de la Noria
- Macizo de Anaga
- Igueste de San Andrés
- Taganana
- Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre
- Parque Marítimo César Manrique
- Playa de Las Teresitas
- Auditorio de Tenerife
Parks and Squares
- Parque García Sanabria
- Plaza de 25 de julio (de los Patos)
- Plaza de España
- Plaza de la Candelaria
- Plaza del Príncipe
- Plaza de Weyler
Commercial areas
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is famous for its commercial stores, which includins zona Centro (Central part) - calles dal Castillo, San José, del Pilar, Viera y Clavijo and more), zona Rambla (Rambla area) 0 rambla de Pulido, calle Ramón y Cajal and more) and the commercian centres and great in Avenida de 3 Mayo and the big malls in Añaza .
Nightlife
Santa Cruz is characterized for its nightlife consisting of discotheques and pubs in the Marina park named after César Manrique, Avenida 3 de mayo and Residencial Anaga, as well as pubs in La Noria street and surroundings.
Hotels
- Hotel Mencey *****
- Hotel Atlántida ****
- Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz de Tenerife ****
- Hotel Contemporáneo ***
- Hotel Príncipe Paz ***
- Hotel Taburiente ***
- Hotel Pelinor **
- Hotel Plaza ***
Persons
- Adán Martín Menis, the current president of the Canary Islands since 2003
Sister cities
External links
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife Townhall (in Spanish)
- Robert Blake's attack (in Spanish)
- John Genings' attack (in Spanish)
- Map and aerial photos
- Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint or Google
- Satellite images: Google
- Coordinates: Template:Coor dms
See also
| North: Atlantic Ocean | ||
| West: San Cristóbal de La Laguna | Santa Cruz de Tenerife | East: Atlantic Ocean |
| Southwest: El Rosario | South: El Rosario |
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