Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a Spanish city, the capital city of Gran Canaria which is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, 210 kilometers located off the northwestern coast of Africa. It is also the capital of the province of Las Palmas and capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

The population of the city of Las Palmas was 377,600 as of the 2003 census, making it the largest city in the Canary Islands. The population of the whole urban area was estimated in 2003 to be 609,628, ranking as the 10th-largest urban area of Spain. (Gran Canaria island had 789,908 inhabitants in 2003).

The city was founded in the 24th of June, 1478 by Juan Rejón and the Castillian troops, after fighting the local Guanches (aboriginal people of the Canary Islands). In 1492, Christopher Columbus stopped in the city prior to his first trip to the Americas. He also stopped on the way back to Spain. Today, a museum is named after him - Casa Colon in the Vegueta area of the city.

Las Palmas is today a very cosmopolitan city. There are popular beaches nearby (Las Canteras and Las Alcaravaneras) and a busy harbor (Puerto de la Luz harbor) - one of the busiest ports in the world during the 70s~early 90s. As a result, many people from all over the world live and work in Las Palmas. Merchants and traders from Africa, China, Russia and the Middle East mingle with each other in the streets of the harbor. The Korean and Indian communities are the largest foreign communities on the island, although the majority have been acquiring Spanish citizenships over the years.

The main City Festival (Fiestas de San Juan) is in June, celebrating the foundation of the City.

The Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is one of the most typical and famous parties of the city, and is not only well known in Spain, but also has worldwide fame.

There is also a good Theater and Dance Festival and an International Film Festival.You can find also the very beautiful Alfredo Kraus Auditoriumnamed after the unforgettable tenor from Gran Canaria. It is just next to Las Canteras Beach.

[Source: Wikipedia]

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