Barlovento

LA PALMA

Index: Geographical data Demographic Evolucion Historical summary Cultural interest visits Economy Geographical aspects Natural interest visits Popular culture Local FESTIVITIES

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA:

Surface: 43,55 square kilometers.

9,51% of the island of La Palma

Altitude: 548 meters (capital of the municipality).

520 meters (La Tosca). - 180 meters (La Cuesta).

Distance by highway: 40 kilometers from Santa Cruz de La Palma.

DEMOGRAPHIC EVOLUTION:

- " In a sudden stop to the vegetation thickens and wet, that from La Galga (Puntallana) to the distant Garafía company the call North palmero, a people shows in a plateau. The land is harder, the most primary urbanization, the cultivation are at once usefulness, abounds the cereal and are fondled the fruit-bearing; has a distant stamp of vegas castellanas and ancient toponimias of Hispanic root. Barlovento, in the coast, a beacon and a growing bananas garden; in the mediocrity, the plateau and in ascension, past The Lagoon (natural depression converted into head-board damming of the Insular Channel), the mountains that favor the wished birth of the waters and that attracted to the principal Castilian in the allotment of the lands by the Adelantado Lugo. " -

(Album of Canarias, 1986).

HISTORICAL SUMMARY

Tagaregre it was the primitive Barlovento´s name. Was coinciding practically with the band of the island Benahoare, as were known formerly to La Palma where was reigning Teniaba.

Its current denomination obeys, certainly, to the fact of be the place where blow the trade and winds of the West.

Ending the century XV, the Barlovento´s plain was a high area chunk, windy and uncovered; in spite this, emerges there the first hamlet, by be in this plain the roads crossroads that, through the summit, were leading from the different terms of the north of La Palma.

This gave rise to the parish of the Rosario, created in 1581, and erected in an adequate place of the flat.

When only there was water in the sources you publish, the municipality lived exclusively of the dryness cultivation, harvesting wheat and potatoes. Was not uncommon that the fruit did not correspond to the efforts, since the rains shortage toward sterile the agricultural task. Gave this place to the creation in 1589 of a deposit local of grains. But this situation came to be amended in the decade of the sixty of this century, when the galleries began to give water. As of there, it was endowed to it of electrical net, water supply and of the urban infrastructure base of the subsequent development.

CULTURAL INTEREST VISITS

The place of greater cultural interest is the parochial church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, shrine of a ship in the one which are kept some sculptures of great value, as are that of the titular Virgin, Flemish work of the century XVI as well as a baroque height of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, originating from the workshop sevillian of Benito de Hista y Castillo, and a foldable arms crucifix, of the century XVIII. Conserves also the shrine a baptismal mud battery glazed, originating from Seville and that in 1679 already were found in the parish. In the reed-mace, two bells originating from a Cuban sugar wit, arrivals in the whiteness of the present century.

The principal economic activity of the municipality is the agriculture, revitalized with the irrigable, what has not prevented the leaving without inhabitants of the different neighborhoods.

The lion's share of the cultivable area is of dryness, devoted to hay plants and potatoes, mainly and, in minor measured, to fruits, cereals, vegetables and vegetables.

The surface of irrigable is consecrated almost lock, stock and barrel to the cultivation of the banana, followed in importance, though to great distance, the potatoes, hay plants and vegetables.

It is very important, equally, the surface consecrated to forest area. The climatic conditions, that push the clouds toward what is high making to crash them with the mountainous wall, favor the dampness with the consequent development of the laurisilva.

The small farming characterizes the field.

GEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS

Occupying the north-east corner of the island, its western limit with Garafía constitutes it the Franceses ravine, while the easterner with San Andrés y Sauces is the ravine of La Herradura. Only in a small summit portion, contacts with the term of El Paso. In this triangular space, that descends from the heights of the edges of La Caldera, until the coast, appear different clean-looking areas

To the southern sector, where is found the municipal capital, is known to it by Barlovento de los Volcanes, in reason of the numerous existing volcanic cones. That of greater altitude is the mountain of La Laguna, in whose crater has been built a raft that it has not given very good results, due to the filtrations.

Other located area more to the north, Barlovento de los Barrancos, appears profoundly impacted by a series of riverbeds. One of the most meaningful and spectacular is that of Gallegos, with you tilt that reach hundreds of meters. Among these ravines, are presented a series of hills, where are found the cultivation lands and the kernels of population. One of the most singular, and of the most towns, in spite of be isolated during many years, by their/its adverse communications, it is the Gallegos neighborhood.

Finally, it fits to indicate a sector superior that is corresponded with the foreign edge of La Caldera.

Though the differences of altitude dial clearly the climatology, the direction of the municipality, open totally to the influence of the trade, permits some greats and abundant hidric contributions. Consequence of this will be the presence of an important bulk of green forest. In levels superior appears the dominance of the pinegrove, that lets step later on to the codeso. At inferior levels, master the areas devoted to forage for the cattle and mostly cultivate, until arriving to the coast, that in occasions is solved in impressive steep.

NATURAL INTEREST VISITS

Though only the coastal north-west sector of the municipality will be considered Natural Park, good part of the term possesses underlined values, derivatives from its spectacular orography and natural wealth, with wide woodland surfaces. The mentioned coastal presents some large steep, where they empty a series of deep ravines. It is an interest space geomorphological and biological.

The coastal area offers other places to consider, case of the Charco de la Fajana, with natural pools, and its immediacys.

In the hamlet of La Tosca, is found the greater concentration of dragos of the Archipelago, preserved by their/its inhabitants, upon constituting these fundamental part of their economies, since as of the leaves, were drawing fibers to manufacture cords.

In La Laguna de Barlovento exists a Recreational Area and of Camped (To stay is necessary to request permit before the Viceconsejería de medio ambiente). In Las Mimbreras, in the Barlobento highway toward Garafía, exists other Recreational Area.

POPULAR CULTURE

In the aspect artesanal, they can be cited the projects of basket making, existing also tradition in labors with straw and the fret.

In the holiday of Ntra. Señora del Rosario, in the third August Sunday, is accomplished an allegoric representation of the battle of Lepanto.

LOCAL FESTIVITIES

Carnival Mars and 7 of October: Day of the Rosary.