Teide is the highest mountain in the Canary Islands and Spain.
The stratovolcano rises 3,715 metres above sea level on Tenerife, making it the highest point in the Atlantic Ocean islands. Its summit stands inside Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007.
Teide is part of a volcanic complex that developed as Tenerife grew from volcanic activity. The broad Las Cañadas caldera surrounds the upper cone, and historic eruptions occurred from vents on the island, including Chinyero in 1909. Teide itself is dormant rather than extinct.
A common mix-up is confusing Spain’s highest mountain with mainland Spain’s highest peak, Mulhacén. Teide is also often called Mount Teide, but “Teide” is the standard short answer. The volcano is sacred in Guanche tradition, and its summit area is a major destination for astronomy because of the island’s clear, high-altitude skies.