Another of the smaller Canary Islands,
El Hierro's name is derived from
the Guanche language toponym
Hero, which by the process of
folk-etymology was transformed into "Hierro,"
meaning "iron" in Spanish, due to its
similarity to that word. Thus, Ferro
(Latin ferrum, "iron") was and is used
as an alternative name for the island.
It is the name for the island in other
languages, including French, German, and
Danish. Pliny the Elder, who used Juba
II as his source, names a series of
Canary Islands, and it is believed that
his Capraria may have been Hierro.
The ancient natives of the island,
called bimbaches, were conquered by Jean
de Béthencourt –more through the process
of negotiation than by military action.
Béthencourt had as his ally and
negotiator Augeron, brother of the
island's native monarch. Augeron had
been captured years previously by the
Europeans and now served as mediator
between the Europeans and the Guanches.
In return for control over the island,
Béthencourt promised to respect the
liberty of the natives, but he
eventually broke his promise, selling
many of the bimbaches into slavery. Many
Frenchmen and Galicians subsequently
settled on the island. There was a
revolt of the natives against the harsh
treatment of the governor Lázaro
Vizcaíno, but it was suppressed.
Like the rest of the chain, the island
is sharply mountainous. It has an area
of 278 km².
The highest point is situated in the
middle of the island, in Malpaso, 1501
meters high.
Like all the Canary Islands, El
Hierro is a tourist destination. It
is served by a small airport at Valverde
and a ferry terminal, both of which
connect to
TenerifeTo view holiday and long-let
properties in El Hierro click
here.
Tenerife |
Gran Canaria
|
Lanzarote
|
La Gomera
|
El Hierro
|
Fuerteventura
|
La Palma
|
