La Geria is one of the most characteristic and unique agricultural landscapes of Lanzarote and of the Archipelago. Its origin lies in the need to take advantage of the wide areas covered by sand (lapilli), emitted in the volcanic eruptions of Timanfaya.
The farmer from Lanzarote was able to appreciate how the plants that had been partially covered with picón or arena, as it is known on the island, had a more favorable development. In this way the idea arose of digging in this superficial layer, about two and a half meters, until finding the buried soil and planting there.
The holes thus made, in the form of small cones, are they usually protect from the wind with a small wall. The characteristics of the lapilli made it possible to maintain rainfed crops, in an area with low rainfall. This is possible thanks to the fact that this volcanic material has the ability to absorb and retain moisture, both from rain and from the environment. Likewise, it allows greater absorption of rainwater, facilitating infiltration and preventing erosion. In addition, the picón (lapilli) acts as an insulator, preventing water loss through evaporation, and keeping the temperature of the topsoil constant.
The crop that most attracts attention in Geria is that of the large extensions of vines (vines), from whose grapes comes the legendary malvasia wine, a golden and fresh wine with a high alcohol content.
The central road that runs through La Geria has become one of the busiest tourist routes frequented. Visitors make stops at various wineries to taste and purchase the wines, as well as to observe the manufacturing process.
The La Geria Protected Landscape constitutes one of the most characteristic and unique agricultural landscapes of Lanzarote and the Canary Archipelago, which is why it was declared a protected landscapein1994, although it was in 1987 when it obtained its first recognition, being declared Natural Park.
The Protected Landscape of La Geria is an extensive natural sandbank of volcanic ash, lapilli or as it is known among the locals, picón de (5255'4 hectares). In these lapilli fields, the Lanzaroteño peasant ha created an agricultural landscape unique in the world; where, based on tenacity and dedication, it has been able to take advantage of it and has been able to cultivate vines, fig trees and other fruit trees in harmony with the environment.
To do this, it has excavated holes several meters deep in the volcanic ash up to find arable land, where the vines are planted. The upper edge is covered with small dry stone walls, extracted from the land itself, in the shape of a crescent to prevent sand from falling inland due to the prevailing trade winds on the island. This type of planting allows plants to take root more easily. in the fertile soil, while the top layer of lapilli reduces the evapotranspiration
In addition to the high landscape value, where the contrast of the green of the vines on the black volcanic soil creates a beautiful landscape, La Geria has important elements of geomorphological and geological interest such as cones, lava lakes, caves, etc.
La Geria has also been declared a special protection zone for birds (ZEPA), and the area it occupies in its inside the Natural Monument of the Naturalists Cave, has been declared an ecologically sensitive area. To the west it borders the Los Volcanes Natural Park.
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