Tenerifeis the largest and most populated island of the sevenCanary Islands;it is also the most populated island of Spain. Tenerife is also the largest and most populous island ofMacaronesia.About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the most of any of the Canary Islands.It is also one of the most important tourist destinations in Spainand the world.Tenerife hosts one of the world's largestcarnivalsand theCarnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerifeis attempting to become aWorld Heritage Site.
The island is home to theUniversity of La Laguna, which was founded in 1792 and is the oldest university in the Canaries. San Cristóbal de La Laguna(aWorld Heritage Site) is the second city of the island and the third one of the archipelago. The city ofLa Lagunawas also capital of the Canary Islands until Santa Cruz replaced it in 1833.
In theTeide National Park(World Heritage Site), in the center of the island, is the highest elevation of Spain as well as the highest of the islands of the Atlantic Ocean, and the third largest volcano in the world from its base,Teide.Also located on the islandMacizo de Anagasince 2015 isBiosphere Reserveand is the place that has the largest number of endemic species in Europe.The island's capital contains the architectural symbol of the Canary Islands, the modernAuditorio de Tenerife.