The island, which belongs to Africa with reference to geography and to Europe politically, is within a stone's throw of the African coast, extending at only about 150 km distance, between the 27th and 29th degree of latitude. Gomera stretches over about 373 km2 and therefore is the smallest but one of the seven main islands of the Canaray archipelago. Due to its pleasant climate, Gomera is especially popular with Northern European visitors. Average temperatures of 22 °C in winter and 27 °C in summer give rise to feelings of eternal spring.
For most tourists the reason to come to La Gomera is the breathtaking nature. Wild and fractured landscapes have imprinted the island's picture. The central mountain massif of the Garajonay measures 1487 m at its highest peak.
The inhabitants of La Gomera have a unique way of communicating across deep ravines by means of an amazing whistled speech called Silbo Gomero. This whistled language is indigenous to the island, and its existence has been documented since Roman times. Invented by the original inhabitants of the island, the Guanches, Silbo Gomero was adopted by the Spanish settlers in the 16th century and survived after the Guanches died out. When this unique means of communication was threatened with extinction at the dawn of the 21st century, the local
government required all children to learn it in school.
