Agustín Pallarés, Corresponding Academic of the Academy of Sciences and Engineering of Lanzarote, illustrated the attendees of the talk "18th Century Volcanoes in Lanzarote" about the volcanic eruptions that occurred on the Island between 1730 and 1735. This summer cultural activity was organized by the Blas Cabera Felipe Cultural Scientific Center at the Sociedad Democracia.
Pallarés described the eruptions that, in his opinion, stood out the most for their destructive effects and the historical traces they have left. "La Caldera de Los Cuervos" was the volcano that inaugurated the series of explosions of those years. It destroyed towns such as Santa Catalina and Mancha Blanca, and its eruption caused the greatest impression among the residents of the Island.
"La Caldera de la Rilla"
Likewise, the speaker recalled that "La Caldera de la Rilla" was distinguished as a volcano that emitted an enormous amount of black volcanic sand, which covered a territory of seven or eight kilometers around, causing havoc in several locations. Subsequently, there were volcanoes that poured lava over that sand and "erased" the previous effects.
As is logical, these and other emissions filled the Island with dread, so much so that the inhabitants closest to the eruption centers were forced to flee. Agustín Pallarés recounted that the inhabitants of Santa Catalina moved to what is currently the town of Los Valles in Teguise, and that for that reason it is called Los Valles de Santa Catalina.
First eruption
Pallarés said with absolute precision that the first eruption occurred on September 1, 1730. Between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on that day, the volcano of "La Caldera de Los Cuervos" exploded. However, one cannot speak with the same precision about the end of the eruptions. Some books relate that they ended in 1736, but Agustín Pallarés asserts that it could be a mistake, emphasizing that it does not even appear in the priest's diary, as is usually said.
Self-taught with scientific concerns
Agustín Pallarés declares himself as a self-taught person with scientific concerns "because unfortunately I could not study." For 45 years he worked as a technician in maritime signals in several lighthouses in the Canary Islands, and then when he settled permanently in Lanzarote he alternated his work with that of a tourist guide, mastering the English and French languages.
He says that when he was assigned to the Alegranza lighthouse, since there were two people working there, he was allowed to work every four months and he used the remaining time as a tourist guide, even getting his official title. Alegranza brings back beautiful memories of his childhood because his father also worked there as a lighthouse keeper.
Pallarés became interested in the prehistory and history of Lanzarote, the toponymy of the Island, its fauna and flora, but always researching on his own and individually. He has written articles in Canarian newspapers and collaborated in several works such as the General History of the Canary Islands published in the 70s, and one of the editions of the Atlas of the Canary Islands.
Scientific concerns
The Academic does not forget that his scientific concerns were born from a very young age accompanying his father "because he was a man who really liked reading and in the lighthouse he had books of literature, but also encyclopedias and that allowed me to educate myself on my own."
He is passionate about toponymy or the study of the origin and meaning of the proper names of Lanzarote, he knows the Island and declares that he has climbed all the mountains without leaving one, collecting data and investigating. Although it seems like a paradox, he says, "the flora of Lanzarote
is very rich, with more than 500 wild species in 800 square kilometers."
