Tenerife (/tɛnəˈriːf/; Spanish: [teneˈɾife]) is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands;[2] it is also the most populated island of Spain,[2] with a land area of 2,034.38 square kilometres (785 sq mi) and 898,680 inhabitants,[3] 43 percent of the total population of the Canary Islands.[2] Tenerife is also the largest and most populous island of Macaronesia.

About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the most of any of the Canary Islands.[4] It is also one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain.[5] Tenerife hosts one of the world's largest carnivals and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is attempting to become a World Heritage Site.[6] Tenerife is served by two airports, Tenerife North Airport andTenerife South Airport, and is the tourism and economic centre of the archipelago.[7][8]

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island and the seat of the island council (cabildo insular). The city is capital of theautonomous community of Canary Islands (shared with Las Palmas), sharing governmental institutions such as Presidency and ministries. Between the 1833 territorial division of Spain and 1927 Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands, until a decree ordered that the capital of the Canary Islands be shared, as it remains at present.[9][10]

The island is home to the University of La Laguna, which was founded in 1792 and is the oldest university in the Canaries.San Cristóbal de La Laguna (a World Heritage Site) is the second city of the island and the third one of the archipelago. The city of La Laguna was also capital of the Canary Islands until Santa Cruz replaced it in 1833.[11]

Tenerife also has the highest elevation of Spain, a World Heritage Site that is the third largest volcano in the world from its base, El Teide.[12] Also located on the island Macizo de Anaga since 2013 is Biosphere Reserve.[13] The island's capital contains the architectural symbol of the Canary Islands, the modern Auditorio de Tenerife.[14][15]