Introduction
City in Canary Islands, SpainArrecifeCityAerial view of Arrecife
FlagCoat of armsInteractive map of ArrecifeArrecifeLocation of ArrecifeShow map of LanzaroteArrecifeArrecife (Canary Islands)Show map of Canary IslandsArrecifeArrecife (Spain, Canary Islands)Show map of Spain, Canary IslandsCoordinates: 28°57′45″N 13°33′2″W / 28.96250°N 13.55056°W / 28.96250; -13.55056CountrySpainAutonomous CommunityCanary IslandsProvinceLas PalmasIslandLanzaroteGovernment • MayorÁstrid Pérez Batista (PP)Area • Total22.72 km2 (8.77 sq mi)Elevation(AMSL)20 m (66 ft)Population (2025-01-01) • Total70,811 • Density3,117/km2 (8,072/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+00:00 (WET) • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)Postal code35500Area code+34 (Spain) + 928 (Las Palmas)Websitewww.arrecife.es
Arrecife (/ˌærəˈsiːfeɪ/; Spanish: [areˈθife] ⓘ; locally [areˈsife]) is the capital city and a municipality of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, Spain. It was made the island's capital in 1852. The city owes its name to the rock reef ("arrecife" being Spanish for "reef") which covers its local beach. It also gives its name to the nearby Arrecife Airport. By 2025, the population of the municipality was 70,265, and the population of the city was 52,079.
Its area is 22.72 square kilometres (8.77 sq mi).
Arrecife is located south of Teguise and east of San Bartolomé, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its southeast. It is a port town, served by ferries to the other Canary Islands, Europe, and Africa. The LZ1 road connects Arrecife to the northeast of the island, the LZ2 road connects it to the southwest, and the LZ3 road serves as the city's beltway. The tallest building in Lanzarote is the Arrecife Gran Hotel, which is located on the seafront alongside the harbour.
History
[edit]
The earliest records of Arrecife date from the fifteenth century when it was a small fishing settlement. The name, given then as Arrecifes, refers to the black volcanic reefs behind which boats could hide, protected from sudden pirate attacks.
Towards the end of the sixteenth century the settlement began to grow in response to a need for accommodation and warehousing to support growing trade between the old and new worlds. The first church was constructed at this time, consecrated to the first bishop of Arrecife, San Ginés. Growing prosperity increased the attractiveness of the town as a pirate target: in 1571 a pirate named Dogan plundered and almost completely destroyed the little port town.
In 1964 Arrecife became the site of Lanzarote's first sea-water desalination plant.
Climate
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Arrecife has a tropical hot desert climate (BWh) according to the Köppen climate classification. The little precipitation is concentrated in the winter months.
Climate data for Lanzarote Airport (1991-2020), extremes (1972-present)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
27.9(82.2)
29.4(84.9)
34.4(93.9)
36.3(97.3)
42.6(108.7)
40.7(105.3)
43.4(110.1)
43.6(110.5)
40.5(104.9)
37.3(99.1)
34.2(93.6)
27.5(81.5)
43.6(110.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
20.9(69.6)
21.5(70.7)
22.9(73.2)
23.8(74.8)
25.2(77.4)
26.7(80.1)
28.5(83.3)
29.5(85.1)
28.6(83.5)
27.0(80.6)
24.3(75.7)
22.0(71.6)
25.1(77.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)
17.6(63.7)
18.0(64.4)
19.1(66.4)
20.0(68.0)
21.4(70.5)
23.0(73.4)
24.6(76.3)
25.6(78.1)
24.8(76.6)
23.3(73.9)
20.9(69.6)
18.8(65.8)
21.4(70.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
14.2(57.6)
14.4(57.9)
15.2(59.4)
16.1(61.0)
17.5(63.5)
19.2(66.6)
20.7(69.3)
21.5(70.7)
21.0(69.8)
19.6(67.3)
17.4(63.3)
15.5(59.9)
17.7(63.9)
Record low °C (°F)
8.0(46.4)
7.6(45.7)
8.3(46.9)
9.5(49.1)
11.5(52.7)
12.4(54.3)
15.4(59.7)
16.6(61.9)
15.5(59.9)
12.0(53.6)
10.9(51.6)
9.0(48.2)
7.6(45.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
15.4(0.61)
16.1(0.63)
12.2(0.48)
4.1(0.16)
1.2(0.05)
0.1(0.00)
0.0(0.0)
0.5(0.02)
1.8(0.07)
12.8(0.50)
15.8(0.62)
21.4(0.84)
101.4(3.98)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)
2.8
2.5
2.2
0.9
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.4
2.1
3.0
3.2
17.5
Average relative humidity (%)
66
66
65
64
64
65
66
67
69
69
67
69
66
Mean monthly sunshine hours
204.6
200.6
248.0
258.0
294.5
291.0
313.1
303.8
261.0
232.5
204.0
201.5
3,012.6
Percentage possible sunshine
63
63
67
67
70
69
73
74
70
66
63
63
67
Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología
Historical population
[edit]
Historical populationYearPop.±% p.a. 1996 38,091—     2000 43,711+3.50% 2005 53,920+4.29% 2010 58,156+1.52%YearPop.±% p.a. 2015 56,940−0.42% 2018 61,351+2.52%202064,645+2.65%Source: Centro de Datos, Cabildo de Lanzarote
Economy
[edit]
The Port of Arrecife is the main port facility for Lanzarote and the second busiest in the Canary Islands in terms of passengers. It handles passenger ferries, cruise ships, and ro-ro cargo, but also bulk, breakbulk, containers, and liquid bulk, and has a large fishing port.
Assets of Cultural Interest
[edit]
The real estate properties of Arrecife registered in the Register of Assets of Cultural Interest are:
Casa de los Arroyo
Castillo de San Gabriel
Castillo de San José
Iglesia Matriz de San Ginés Obispo
Fachada del edificio Segarra
Headquarter of the Island Council of Lanzarote
Salinas de Naos
Salinas de Bufona
Sites of interest
[edit]
Playa Reducto, Arrecife's town beach
Castillo de San José, 18th-century fortress that now houses a collection of modern art
Puente de Las Bolas, bridge leading to the Castillo de San Gabriel
Charco de San Ginés, man-made lagoon used by fishermen
Gallery
[edit]
Church
The Gran Hotel Arrecife
Castle of San Gabriel
