Garajonay National Park (Spanish: Parque nacional de Garajonay, pronounced [ˈpaɾke naθjoˈnal de ɣaɾaxoˈnaj]) is located in the center and north of La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands in Spain. It was made a national park in 1981 and recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The park covers 40 square kilometers (15 square miles) and includes parts of all six towns on the island.

Almost 450,000 visitors come to the park each year. There are hotels and other places to stay near the park’s edge.

The park is named after Garajonay, a rock formation that is the island’s highest point at 1,487 meters (4,879 feet). It also includes a plateau that ranges from 790 to 1,400 meters (2,590 to 4,590 feet) above sea level. The park has large rocks that were once volcanoes. Over time, wind and water shaped these rocks. Some, like the "Fortaleza" (which means fortress in Spanish), were considered sacred by the island’s original people and used as safe places during attacks. The park has 18 walking trails, and hiking is a popular activity for visitors.

Environment

Many species of plants and animals are found only in the Macaronesian islands, including the Canary Islands and La Gomera. The Garajonay forest is home to a wide variety of plants, insects, birds, and bats, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. The park is the best example of Canarian laurisilva, a type of humid subtropical forest that once covered much of Southern Europe during the Tertiary period. This forest is also found on the Azores and Madeira Islands. Two types of laurel trees, Laurus azorica (Azores laurel) and Laurus novocanariensis (Canary laurel), grow in the park. Although the forest is called a single type, the national park includes several different kinds of forests. The richest and most complex forests are found in northern valleys that receive the most rainfall. These are called valley laurisilva, a true subtropical rainforest with the tallest laurel trees. At higher altitudes, where the wind and sun are stronger, the forest has fewer delicate species. This area is called slope laurisilva. In the south, the forest is mostly made up of beech trees and heather, plants that grow well in drier conditions. In August 2012, a forest fire burned 747 hectares, or about 18%, of the park.

Two reptile species live in the park: Gallotia gomerana (Gomeran lizard) and Chalcides viridanus (Gomeran skink). Amphibians include the stripeless tree frog, Hyla meridionalis. The park is famous for being a great place to see two types of Canarian pigeons, the laurel pigeon (Columba junoniae) and Bolle's pigeon (Columba bollii). The park has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports many bird species. These include the two endemic pigeon species, as well as Barbary partridges, plain swifts, Eurasian sparrowhawks, Berthelot's pipits, and island canaries.

Gara and Jonay

The peak and park are named after Guanche legend, the unfortunate lovers Gara and Jonay. Their story is similar to those of Romeo and Juliet and Hero and Leander. Gara was a princess from Agulo on La Gomera. During the Beñesmén festival, unmarried girls from Agulo would look at their reflections in the waters of Chorros del Epina. If the water was clear, they would find a husband; if it was cloudy, something bad would happen. When Gara looked at the water, she saw her reflection clearly. However, she looked too long, and the sun’s reflection temporarily blinded her. A wise man named Gerián told her this meant she should avoid fire, or it would harm her.

Jonay was the son of the Guanche mencey, or king, of Adeje on Tenerife, who came to the island for the ceremonies. Jonay’s participation in the games caught Gara’s attention, and the two fell in love. When their engagement was announced, the volcano Teide, visible from La Gomera, began to erupt as if it disapproved. This was seen as a bad sign, and the couple’s families ended their engagement. Jonay was sent back to Tenerife, but one night, he swam across the channel between the islands to reunite with Gara. Their fathers ordered them to be found. The lovers were soon trapped on a mountain, where they chose to end their lives.

• Wooden statues of Gara and Jonay are located in the park.
• Garajonay National Park is visible in satellite images.
• The Enchanted Forest is part of Garajonay National Park on La Gomera, Spain.
• A Guanche Sanctuary is located at the top of Garajonay mountain.
• Laurisilva forest is found within Garajonay National Park.
• Clouds are often seen in Garajonay National Park.