Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria (April 2023)
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates27°58′N 15°36′W / 27.967°N 15.600°W / 27.967; -15.600
Area1,560.11 km2 (602.36 sq mi)
Highest elevation1,956 m (6417 ft)
Highest pointMorro de la Agujereada
Spain
RegionMacaronesia
Autonomous CommunityCanary Islands
ProvinceLas Palmas
Largest settlementLas Palmas de Gran Canaria (pop. 380,863)
Demographics
Population862,893 (start of 2023)
Pop. density553.1/km2 (1432.5/sq mi)

Gran Canaria (UK: /ˌɡræn kəˈnɛəriə, -ˈnɑːr-/, US: /ˌɡrɑːn kəˈnɑːriə, -ˈnɛər-/; Spanish: [ɡɾaŋ kaˈnaɾja] ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa. As of 2023 the island had a population of 862,893 that constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is the largest city of the Canary Islands and the ninth-largest of Spain.

Gran Canaria is located in the Atlantic Ocean in a region known as Macaronesia about 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1,350 km (840 mi) from Europe. With an area of 1,560 km2 (600 sq mi) and an altitude of 1,956 m (6,417 ft) at Morro de la Agujereada, Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the archipelago in both area and altitude. Gran Canaria is also the third most populated island in Spain.