The New International Encyclopædia/Santa Cruz de Tenerife

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, tắ′nắ-rē′fắ (Eng. Teneriffe, tĕn′e-rĭf′). The capital of the Canary Islands, situated at the head of a bay near the northeastern end of the island of Teneriffe (Map: Spain, F 5). It is defended on the seaward side by several forts and is well built, with straight streets and modern houses. The principal square, the Plaza de la Constitución, contains a large monument with a statue by Canova. The principal buildings are the house of the Captain-General, the civil government building, and the hospitals; the town has a high school, a school of navigation, a preparatory academy, a public library, and a museum of natural history. An aqueduct five miles long supplies water from the mountains. The harbor is protected by a breakwater and has good facilities for coaling. Santa Cruz is the second seaport in the Canary Islands. It exports sugar, cochineal, almonds, wine, cattle, and agricultural products. Its population in 1887 was 18,830; in 1900, 35,055.

Santa Cruz was founded by the Spaniards in 1494. It was attacked by an English fleet under Blake in 1657, and by Nelson in 1797; it was in the latter engagement that Nelson lost his arm. The city became capital of the islands in 1822.