The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, inaugurated this Monday morning the IV International Symposium of Anchialine Ecosystems, an event organized by Geoparque Lanzarote and Archipiélago Chinijo, the Government of the Canary Islands and the researcher Alejandro Martínez, which brings together on the island experts, students and researchers of this type of unique habitats from all over the planet.
According to the institution, "an anchialine ecosystem is a terrestrial geological scenario invaded by seawater filtered through pores and fissures in the rock that is inhabited by animals never found in the ocean." "Lanzarote, by the way, can boast of having one of the most interesting of these ecosystems, a biological treasure, the Tunnel of Atlantis, the longest anchialine lava tube with the greatest biodiversity in the world with the presence of at least 38 endemic species," they add from the Cabildo.
San Ginés, who was accompanied by the councilor of the Centers and Geoparque Lanzarote and Archipiélago Chinijo, Echedey Eugenio, welcomed the attendees to the island, whom he invited to "take advantage of this meeting to continue deepening the investigation of the secrets that the Tunnel of Atlantis still holds, a source of knowledge for the people of Lanzarote yet to be discovered, and to enjoy the natural heritage and landscapes that this island offers."
Sessions
Thus, until next Friday, the attendees, who were received by students from the IES Costa Teguise who gave them background information on the most relevant aspects of the island, will exchange information on the latest data obtained from life in these spectacular and interesting habitats. After the inaugural talk, which was given by Pedro Oromí, professor of the Department of Animal Biology at the University of La Laguna, scientists and researchers from all over the planet will address topics and offer keynote talks related to Microbiology, Educational Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Biogeochemistry and Hydrogeology, Earth Sciences and Cave Exploration.
During the Symposium, Alejandro Martínez will present some relevant data and the main characteristics of this submerged part of the La Corona tube, which are included in the 'Interpretative Guide of the anchialine ecosystems of Jameos del Agua and Túnel de la Atlántida', a publication by several authors published by the Cabildo de Lanzarote that can be downloaded from www.geoparquelanzarote.org.
The sessions, which will be free and open to the public, will be held between 09.00 and 18.00 hours. On Wednesday there will be a field session, with a visit to the salt mines of Guatiza, the Cueva de los Verdes, Jameos del Agua, Órzola, the Mirador del Río, Haría and the beach of Famara.
