Madrid to Rio de Janeiro

1913 - 'Ancient buildings in Santa Maria de Belancuria, Fuertaventura'. These buildings probably date from when the Canaries were settled by the Spanish in the 1400s.

The difference in vegetation across the Canaries can be seen in this satellite image. The islands of Lanzarote and Fuertaventura, closest to Africa, are mainly desert, while further west the islands are greener.

1913 - 'Hermigua Gomera'. The volcanic soil of the westerly Canary Islands is extremely fertile, and has been used for farming for centuries.

1913 - 'The highest peaks, Canary Islands'. The rough terrain of the Canary Islands meant that it took nearly a century for the Spanish to fully conquer the islands.

The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions that built up layers of lava for millions of years until they reached above sea level.

1842 - By the 19th century, the Canary Islands were prosperous trade hubs, serviced by ships crossing the Atlantic.

1913 - 'Coast formations, Canary Islands'. From the arrival of the Spanish, small towns grew along the coasts of the Canary Islands, nestled between the imposing volcanic landscape.

1375 - Spanish map of Europe and Africa clearly depicts the main Canary Islands in bright colours a quarter of a century before the Spanish conquest began.

The volcanic soil of Lanzarote supports vineyards, such as this. Home grown Canarian wine was traded across the Atlantic after the arrival of the Spanish settlers.

1490 - Illuminure from Le Canarien depicting the 1402 French expedition to the Canary Islands. Before being incorporated into the Kingdom of Castille, the Canaries were identified as an important foothold in the Atlantic.

1922 - 'Santa Cruz harbour, Tenerife'. Shipping and trade was long the Canary Islands' main industry, as merchants arrived here from across the world to trade with one another.

Rather than merely acting as a trading post, the Canaries were able to produce goods such as wine to trade. Grape vines are planted within stone circles to protect them from the wind.

1913 - 'Coast formations, Canary Islands'. In spite of the tough terrain, the Canaries were a vital stopping point for ships on their way across the Atlantic.

This relief map shows how the Canary Islands are the tips of volcanoes that have built up from the seabed after millions of years of underwater eruptions.

The volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. This island is the most barren of the archipelago, due to its proximity to the African mainland.

Santa Cruz has grown around the green volcanic landscape on the island of Tenerife.

Tourism is the main industy on the Canary Islands. 12 million people each year visit Tenerife alone.

The peak of Mount Tiede is the highest point in Europe. To the south is the smaller Pico Viejo. Channels of lava flows are visible emanating from both peaks.

The cities of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane nestle amongst volcanic mountains marked with cinder cones and lava flows on the south of La Palma.

1913 - 'Barranco de Fataga, Gran Canaria'. The rough volcanic landscape of the Canary Islands.

1913 - 'Peculiar formations of part of the sea cliffs, Allegranza'. Unusual rock formations can be found across the Canaries, such as these.

At night, lights show the locations of towns in the volcanic heart of Gran Canaria.

The dense forests of La Palma contrasts entirely with the deserts of Lanzarote. The Canaries are known for their extremely varied climate and topography.

Hacha Grande, meaning 'Large Axe', is one of the tallest mountains on Lanzarote. Solidified lava flows can be seen on its flanks.

Mount Tiede, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. The volcanic Canaries were thought to be formed due to a 'hotspot' in the Earth's crust, that forced magma to rise up and form volcanoes.

1913 - 'Coast formations, Canary Islands'. Many of the coastlines around the Canary Islands are characterised by jagged rock formations.

Petroglyphs are images either painted or carved into rock. The Guanches documented many of their stories through petroglyphs, found in the volcanic rock of the Canaries.

Pottery such as this has been found across the Canary Islands, left behind by the Guanches peoples.

A model reconstruction of life for the Guanches before the arrival of the Spanish.

A model reconstruction of how the Guanches people would have lived.

This cave on the island of La Palma would have been inhabited by Guanches people nearly 3,000 years ago.

Evidence of the Guanches people can be found across the Canary Islands in the form of petroglyphs such as these.

A statue in Tenerife commemorates Mencey Bentor, the last Guanche to be enslaved at the hands of Spanish troops.

A Guanche sanctuary found on La Gomera, one of the smaller of the Canary Islands. The Guances left behind evidence of their religious practices, such as this henge.

These petroglyphs, found on La Palma, could date back as far as 2,000 years ago from the time when the Guanches first arrived on the Canary Islands from Africa.

Guanches petroglyphs are found across the Canary Islands. They are thought to be up to 2,000 years old.

The southern view of Mount Tiede, the third largest volcano in the world. It is the prominent feature of Tenerife, standing 3,718 metres high.

A Guanche mummy is preserved in the Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre in Tenerife.

The Guanches believed that Mount Tiede was inhabited by the devil, Guayota, whose rage caused the volcano to erupt.