La Laguna (Los Llanos de Aridane)

La Laguna
Town
Montaña de La Laguna
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)
 • Total
1,645
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postcode
38769

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.

History

The town was also known as "Tajuya de abajo"[1] or "La Laguna de Tajuya", with historical references going back to the 17th century.[2]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

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

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

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 14 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

  1. ^ a b "La Laguna". Los Llanos de Aridane (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. 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).