Betancuria is a Canarian municipality in the northern portion of the island of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura , a Spanish island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is situated at 28°20' north, 14°00' west. At 1,660 km² it is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife...

 in the Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 province of Las Palmas

Las Palmas (province)

The Province of Las Palmas is a province of Spain, consisting of the eastern part of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.-Composition:...

, Canary Islands

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...

.

The population is 721 (ISTAC, 2003), its density is 6.96/km² and is excepted to reach 100/km² and the area is 103.64 km². The population is the smallest in Fuerteventura as well as the province of Las Palmas and all of the Canary Islands. The city of Betancuria is named after Jean de Béthencourt

Jean de Béthencourt

Jean de Béthencourt was a French explorer who, in 1402, led an expedition to the Canary Islands, landing first on the north side of Lanzarote...

 and was founded in 1404 by Gadifer de La Salle

Gadifer de la Salle

Gadifer de La Salle was a French knight and crusader of Poitevine origin who, with Jean de Béthencourt, conquered and explored the Canary Islands for the Kingdom of Castile....

 and Jean de Béthencourt and was the main city in the central part of the island until the 19th century. It is located a main highway linking north to Puerto del Rosario

Puerto del Rosario

Puerto del Rosario is a Canarian municipality in the northern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands. Puerto del Rosario is also the capital of the island of Fuerteventura since 1835. The population is 28,357 , with a density of 39.43/km² which is...

 and Tuineje and another east to Antigua

Antigua, Fuerteventura

Antigua is a Canarian municipality in the central and the eastern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands The population is 6,587 , its density is 26.29/km² and the area is 250.56 km². It is located a main highway linking north to Puerto del Rosario...

. The main industries are agriculture and tourism. The Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

 is to the west, the mountains cover much of the municipality along with barren land. Farmlands dominate the rest of the municipality.

Betancuria was sacked by pirates in older times. The island's capital moved to Antigua

Antigua, Fuerteventura

Antigua is a Canarian municipality in the central and the eastern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands The population is 6,587 , its density is 26.29/km² and the area is 250.56 km². It is located a main highway linking north to Puerto del Rosario...

 in 1834 before moving to the present capital of Puerto del Rosario.

Geography

• Location:
  • Latitude: 28.41667 (28°25') N
  • Longitude: 14.05 (14°3') W
• Altitude:
  • Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
  • Centre: 395 m
  • Highest: central part
• Name of inhabitants: Betancurian sing., -s pl.
• Postal code: 35637

Other

Betancuria has a school, a small lyceum, a few gymnasia, a few churches, beaches, a post office, and a square (plaza).

See also

• List of municipalities in Las Palmas

  	North: Puerto del Rosario Puerto del Rosario Puerto del Rosario is a Canarian municipality in the northern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands. Puerto del Rosario is also the capital of the island of Fuerteventura since 1835. The population is 28,357 , with a density of 39.43/km² which is...
  West: Atlantic Ocean	Puerto del Rosario	East: Antigua
  	South: Pájara