Gran Canaria, when is it best to stay indoors?

When coming on your holiday to Gran Canaria during the glorious sun soaked summer months, I cannot impress upon you enough that it really is a good policy to check the weather forecast.
The dunes at Maspalomas are a natural feature, and are made up of sand blown across the Atlantic from the Sahara desert in North Africa, but this is not the only desert feature that Gran Canaria and the other islands share. We have all seen the films on television set in desert conditions and viewed terrible winds whipping up the sand, and the actors characters complaining about dehydration, well those conditions happen gere as well, and mainly during the summer months.
A calima is typically easy to spot by the large quanity of sand that is just hanging in the air. Occasionally it is so thick that it gives the effect of fog. Truly remarkable, when you realise that this is usually accompanied by very strong, hot winds.
I explained in my last article how the volcano affects the weather profoubdly causing different weather sytems to coincide in such a small place, and how it redirects the winds. It also has a bearing on the effects of a calima in that it concentrates the system.
Okay so what are the real physical attributes of a calima? To begin with the sand hangs as a thick layer in the air, forming something akin to a ceiling. This results in the air beneath it warming up, and the strength of any wind increasing because it is unable to dissipate in the usual way. Remember that the sun is still bearing down on the layer of sand which in turn is continuing to bake the air below it, and as a consequence warming the trapped winds. The increase in temeratures means that everything gets extremely hot, and it is possible if you are not careful for you to recieve burns from metal seats, and even the sand on the beach, if you make it that far. You will also notice, even if you are out in it for just a short while that your nose will feel dry and tight, and definitely will fell the need to keep swallowing because of the dryness of the air that you are breathing. The usual temperature for daytimes during summer in Gran Canaria is about 35 degrees, but during a calima it is not unknown for this temperature to get into the fifties when it can becaome extremely dangerous, especially for the more elderly, and young children. Even the plant life here suffers. If you look at the palm trees you will see the fronds, dried and crisp at the ends and edges, and any grass or other low growing plants are likely to feel crisp. Burnt by the searing winds. This does not mean you shouldn´t take your summer holiday in Gran Canaria, or that it is life threatening. It is quitew easy to beat the calima if you know what is heppening and follow a few simple steps
1. Keep youself covered, and protected with a good high factor sunblock.
2.Stay out of the midday sun. This is vommon advice for summer holidays I know but during a calima everything is intensified.
3. Keep yourself hydrated. The wind removes moisture from your body as well as the sun, and during a calima you are battling both elments. You can become dehydrated very quickly, and it is a medical fact that this can gappen to you long before you start being aware of any symptoms. If you do go out or indeed have to go out, keep your head covered and make sure that you have a supply of water or something to drink with you, and sip it regularly.
4. Air conditioning is really helpful during a calima. If your apartment does not already have air conditioning, enquire about the possibilty of renting a portable unit. Many places have them available. You will be glad you did. Air conditioning can mean the difference between a good nights sleep or none at all.
5. During the day, avoid diuretic drinks such as tea, coffee and that small unassuming glass of cold beer with lunch. They can hasten the process of dehydration much faster than you think.
6. Gran Canaria, thanks to the siesta practiced by many shopkeepers and store owners enjoys the fact that they most shops are usually opening well into evening time, so if it is at all possible, consider reorganizing the structure of day. Siesta during the afternoon, and go out during the evening. The sun will have gone down and the risks will have lessened considerably. However it is important to tell you at this point that during a calima, after night fall it is not certain that the temperature will follow suit. In fact as the calima gainsin ntensity, it is often the case that at it´s peak the temperature will continue to rise even during the night.
7. If you are on holiday with elderly relatives or young children, especially babies, the best advice would be to keep them in an environment that has air conditioning for as long as possible, and keep their time outside to an absolute minimum. Overheating, and dehydration are high risk during a calima and both have killed in the past.
8. Insect bite are at the very best irritating but be warned, during a calima flies and mosquitoes will move indoors, so if you are prone to bites, having a ready source of insect repellant, both for human use, and for spraying around your accomodation, and using it regularly, will be beneficial.
You find it uselful to print this article and save it somewhere, or keep it in your suitcase. Just as a little reminder or referance to some of the things that you can do to make your holiday a memorable one, and one that was not spoiled, even though there happened to be a calima while you were here. If you have aby friends or relatives that you know are coming to Gran Canaria, it might help them to receive a copy of this article as well. Why not send it to them?
I don´t want you going away from this article with the idea that Gran Canaria is not a safe place to go on holiday during summer. That is not the case at all. There are plenty of places that you can go and things to see, that can be done safely, and with all the family.
You could consider driving the island. This can be achieved in one day, giving you some amazing scenery to appreciate, and lots of opportunities for those budding photographers to practice their skills. You will also pass many restaurants and cafes so that you can always keep yourselves topped up with fluids and make sure you don´t go hungry on route. Remeber as well that when hiring a car for this little activity, you are most likely going to be able to hire one with air conditioning to keep everyone comfortable. Unless you have been beaten to it. I would not advise this if there is a calima, and you are not able to hire a car with air conditioning included.

Why not hire a car, and head for Las Palmas in the north of the island where most of the museums are located and plan a tour of them. A day out that is both recreational and educational.
You will find plenty of information about many of the museums on our site.
If you should experience a calima while you are on goliday in Gran Canaria, you will probably feel noting more than a little lethargic and a whole lot inconvenienced but hopefully with these simple little words of advice and suggestions a calima wont spoil your well deserved holiday in the sun.

Article Source: http://sports-articles.net

I am originally from England, and I settled in Gran Canaria 8 years ago with my partner and family, after falling in love with this magical island. Whilst still learning about Gran Canaria, and I hope that never stops, we decided to create www.justgrancanaria.com. It was originally intended to be a holiday booking site, but that has all changed now. www.justgrancanaria.com has evolved into the perfect site for

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