Case Study El Médano

The region around the airport near El Médano is a local example of land use change on Tenerife due to high tourist numbers.

The region El Médano and the airport 1978 and 1996

Land use change around the airport near El Médano.
Source: Naumann 2008

Tasks: 1. Compare the classification of the El Médano region of 1978 and 1996.
2. Where are the most obvious changes? Pay attention to the development of the airport.
3. Interpret your findings with regard to the increase of tourist numbers.
4. Describe the bar graph in the figure below.
5. Which land cover was displaced the most, which one increased the most?
6. What could be possible reasons for change?

Composition of land cover and land use category of 1996 for El Médano out of the categories of 1978.
Source: Naumann 2008