Canary Islands 2007

Many of the prime surf spots in the Canary Islands have been destroyed by development over the past 30 years. Increasing numbers of hotels have been built in an effort to accommodate huge numbers of European tourists; these islands receive more than twice the number of visitors each year than the Hawaiian Islands, despite having half the land mass. Needless to say, the effect on areas like las Americas has been devastating. James Pribram visited the Canary Islands in 2006 to learn more about the problem and meet with government officials in an attempt to help save the few remaining surf spots.