One of the most interesting galleries of connecting
caves and underground grottoes in the world lies to the north
of Lanzarote, at the foot of the volcano Monte de la Corona
which erupted around 3.000 years ago.
"Jameos" means bubbles of lava. A jameo is formed
when a tunnel ceiling collapses, most often occurring when its
width exceeds twenty meters, or when gases accumulate and explode.
Only a jameo reveals the presence
of volcanic passages and allows their routes to be traced.
The Jameos del Agua was artistically developed for viewing
by César Manrique in 1968.
Through a winding staircase visitors enter into the
Jameo Grande, a roofless volcanic bubble 100 m. long
and 30 m. wide, and from there into a magnificent garden
with a large swimming pool.
A dance floor and two bars built into
the niches formed by the rocks create and exciting night
club.
A concert cave opens up towards the end of Jameo Grande.
This astonishing hall with its wonderful natural acoustics,
seats 600 spectators and offers a unique setting for concerts
and ballet performances.
At the foot of this cave is a large
stage that extends into the next volcanic bubble called
Jameo de la Cazuela, the latest to be made accessible
to the public.
A few native and non-native species of animals live
here some permanently, others temporarily. The most
emblematic is the blind albino crab, a rare and delicate
marine crustacean.
The final touch sought by César
Manrique to impress the visitor is the incorporation of
a small number of extra elements, like the plants and
the pool, that have now become an intrinsic part of Jameos.
Location:
Carretera de Orzola. Phone number: 928.84.80.20
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:30
to 19:00 hrs. Tuesday, Friday & Saturday from 19:00 to 02:00
hrs. Services: Bar and Restaurant from
13:00 to 15:30 hrs. and from 20:00 to 23:30 hrs.