Monte del Agua laurel forest

The Monte del Agua forest in the north-west of the island along with the Anaga Mountains in the north-east, is one of two laurel forests on the island. These forests once covered much of northern Africa and southern Europe up until around 20,000 years ago. Today they are sadly all but gone. They are populated by a variety of species, mainly including laurels, lichens, heaths, willows and mocans. Viñatigos, fayas and wild orange trees are three species of evergreens that can also be found. The best surviving examples can be found in the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. Thanks to the terrain in Tenerife's mountain areas, stretches of these magical forests can still be found.