Mirador de los Poleos

The view from Mirador de los Poleos viewpoint is of the northwest ridge of the island, the site of most of the recent eruptions. This is the most likely site of a new volcanic episode in the future. The last time Tenerife experienced any volcanic activity was 1909, when Montaña Chinyero erupted and spewed out a lava flow, which began to head for the town of Santiago del Teide and the villages La Mancha and Tamaimo. People left their houses and fled to the coast. The story goes that, in a last, desperate course of action, villagers from La Manchas took holy statues to the edge of the lava near their village and prayed for divine intervention. It appeared to work, for, soon after, the lava ground to a halt, leaving the threatened town and villages untouched. There is now a monument and cross to mark the spot where the "miracle" happened.