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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spanish pronunciation: [las ˈpalmaz ðe ɣɾaŋ kaˈnaɾja]) commonly known as Las Palmas ([las ˈpalmas]) is thecapital (jointly with Santa Cruz) and the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 381,847 in 2009. Nearly half (45.9%) of the people of the island and nearly 1/5 (18.35%) of all inhabitants of the Canary Islands live in this city. It is also the fifth most populous urban area in Spain with a population of around 700,000[1] and (depending on sources) ninth or tenth most populous metropolitan area in Spain with a population of 625,892,[2] 640,000[3] or 741,826.[4] Las Palmas is the largest city of the European Union outside Europe. Located in the northeast of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, about 150 kilometers (~93 miles) off the northwestern coast of Africa[5] within the Atlantic Ocean.
Las Palmas enjoy a subtropical climate, with mild to warm temperatures dominating throughout the year. According to a study carried out by Thomas Whitmore, director of research on climatology at Syracuse University in the United States, Las Palmas enjoys "the best climate in the world".[6]
The city is home to the Canarian Ministry of Presidency (shared in a 4-year term with Santa Cruz de Tenerife), one half of the ministries and boards of the Canarian Government, (the other half being located in Tenerife), Gran Canaria Provincial Courts and two courts of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.
The city was founded on June 24, 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas" by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army, before engaging in war with the local Guanches (aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). In 1492, Christopher Columbusanchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas. He also stopped on the way back to Spain. Today, a museum is named after him - Casa Colón - in the Vegueta area of the city. In 1595 Francis Drakefailed to plunder the island. Four years later, in 1599, Las Palmas was raided and partly destroyed by the Dutch under Vice Admiral Pieter van der Does, which is considered a major event in the city's history. In 1927 Las Palmas was designated the primer capital of the Canary Island,Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833 en wikisource</ref>[7]
In July 1936 General Francisco Franco launched the coup from Las Palmas that eventually turned into theSpanish Civil War.
The Las Palmas seaport, Puerto de la Luz, benefited greatly from the closure of the Suez Canal during the Arab-Israeli conflict. Due to its situation as nexus of two continents and its importance as a tourist destination, many foreign workers have migrated to settle in the city.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a sister city of San Antonio, Texas in the United States, which was founded in 1718 by about 25 Canary Islanders.
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