Fuerteventura is an island of volcanic origin dating back approximately 23 million years ago. The first inhabitants were the Phoenicians, who arrived here only around the 10th century BC. Later, the island was colonized by populations of Berber origin from North Africa. In antiquity, the island of Fuerteventura was known by various names, including Planaria, referring to the flatness of much of its profile, or as Herbania, which likely derives from the Berber term “bani”, meaning wall. This theory is supported by the fact that when the first European settlers landed on the island, they found it divided into two kingdoms: Maxorata, ruled by the sovereign Guize, and Jandía, which were separated by La Pared (The Wall), of which no remnants have survived to this day. Fuerteventura was conquered by Europeans in 1402 and subdued three years later by Jean De Bethencourt and Gadifer De La Salle. The name, Fuerteventura, may derive from an exclamation by Bethencourt: “¡que fuerte aventura!” (what a strong adventure!).
Historical notes of Fuerteventura
