The Canary Islands, now known as an archipelago of eight major islands and several smaller ones, did not always have their current shape. In the east of the archipelago, between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, there once existed a vast island that scientists call Mahan. Its formation began about 40 million years ago, and its disappearance is linked to the end of the last Ice Age.
During the late Pleistocene era, global sea levels were significantly lower than they are today. As a result, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Lobos Island, and the Chinijo Archipelago formed a single landmass. Experts estimate that this ancient platform covered an area of about 5,000 square kilometers, making it the largest among all present-day Canary Islands.
Geological studies confirm that there is a shallow channel, La Bocaina, between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with a depth of no more than 60 meters, and between Lobos and Corralejo—just about 10 meters. These features, along with the similarity of volcanic rocks and basaltic foundations, indicate that a single landmass once existed here.
Biologists note that Fuerteventura and Lanzarote share the same endemic species of animals and plants. For example, the Canary shrew (Crocidura canariensis), as well as the plants Pulicaria canariensis and Sideritis pumila, are found in both territories. This suggests that there was once an ecological connection between the islands, allowing species to move freely and evolve.
The final separation of the ancient island occurred about 10,000 years ago, when global warming caused glaciers to melt and sea levels rose by more than 100 meters. As a result, water flooded the lowlands, and Mahan split into the individual islands we see today.
The modern name Mahan is not a scientific term, but it has become widely used thanks to local legends and historical research. It is believed that the name is associated with the image of a mythical giant revered by the aboriginal people of the Canaries.
Traces of the ancient Mahan platform are still evident in the region’s geology and in the characteristics of the local flora and fauna. Scientists continue to study these processes to better understand how the archipelago was formed and how climate changes affected its landscape and biological diversity.
The history of the vanished island of Mahan is not only part of the geological past of the Canaries, but also a key to understanding the evolution of the unique species that inhabit the archipelago. Research shows that natural disasters and climate change can radically alter the map of the world, leaving behind only hints in the landscape and living nature.
Today, Mahan can no longer be found on any map, but its legacy endures in every stone, in every endemic plant and animal, and in the memory of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, for whom this story has become part of their cultural identity.
