La Laguna (Los Llanos de Aridane)

La Laguna (also known until recently as Tajuya de abajo or La Laguna de Tajuya) is a town and neighbourhood of Los Llanos de Aridane, in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. It was significantly affected by a lava flow from the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption, which destroyed hundreds of houses in the town.

La Laguna
Town
Montaña de La Laguna
Montaña de La Laguna
La Laguna is located in La Palma
La Laguna
La Laguna
La Laguna is located in Canary Islands
La Laguna
La Laguna
Coordinates: 28°37′54″N 17°54′30″W / 28.63167°N 17.90833°W / 28.63167; -17.90833
Country Spain
Autonomous community Canary Islands
ProvinceSanta Cruz de Tenerife
IslandLa Palma
MunicipalityLos Llanos de Aridane
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,645
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postcode
38769

History

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The town was also known as "Tajuya de abajo"[1] or "La Laguna de Tajuya", with historical references going back to the 17th century.[2]

Description

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The town center is marked by the "Venta de Doña Rosario", a canopy named after a pond that formed nearby when it rained. The neighbourhood does not have many historic buildings; it is known more for the local agriculture, which has changed over the years from sugarcane, to tomato, to banana and avocado, with many small plots owned by locals.[2]

It has a parish church dedicated to San Isidro, construction of which started in June 1966, funded by local donations, and significant contributions from local women.[2]

As of 2020, it had 1645 inhabitants.[3]

Culture

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It has been described as one of the more traditional Los Llanos neighbourhoods. It holds a festival in May called "La Patrona chica", a prelude to Our Lady of Los Remedios festivities in Los Llanos. It had a school since 1875.[2] It was the location of the founding of the Velia Cultural Society in 1932.[1]

Volcanic eruption

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The town was affected by the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption, with the town's football field, as well as a nearby supermarket and other buildings, consumed by lava on the 14th October 2021. The town had been partially evacuated a few days earlier, which was followed by a complete evacuation of the town.[4] A filling station, followed by the school, and hundreds of houses in the town were destroyed by the lava flow shortly afterwards.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "La Laguna". Los Llanos de Aridane (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Herrera, Ricardo (28 May 2012). "Un cruce de caminos en pleno corazón del Valle de Aridane". Diario de Avisos (in European Spanish).
  3. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (Spanish Statistical Institute)". www.ine.es. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  4. ^ "El 'monstruo' de lava arrasa con el supermercado y el campo de fútbol de La Laguna | Canariasenred - Noticias de Canarias" (in Spanish). 14 October 2021.
  5. ^ Vega, Guillermo (20 October 2021). "La lava del volcán de La Palma entra en el casco urbano de La Laguna y provoca nuevas evacuaciones". El País (in Spanish).