The Canary Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions. It consists of 7 main islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro) and other smaller islands of volcanic origin. The islands cover an area of 7,447 km² and have a total population of just under 2.2 million. The Canary Islands are part of the Macaronesia archipelago, along with Madeira and the Azores. The islands are largely mountainous. Mountains of volcanic origin are usually located in the centre of the islands and cover a considerable area. The highest mountain is Pico de Teide, located on the island of Tenerife. Four of Spain's 15 national parks can be found here. Interestingly, almost a third of the plant species found on the islands are endemic. The climate in the Canary Islands is influenced by its position in the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are pleasant all year round, with no major fluctuations.