A three-level volcanic labyrinth
Cueva del Viento, located in the municipality of Icod de los Vinos, is a complex volcanic cavity formed 27,000 years ago from basaltic lavas. These lavas flowed from the first eruptive phase of the Pico Viejo volcano, which is adjacent to Mount Teide. The cave system is the largest lava tube in the European Union and the sixth longest in the world, with over 18 kilometers of passages mapped so far. Its name, which means "Cave of the Wind," comes from the strong air currents that can be felt inside.
A defining feature of Cueva del Viento is its unique geomorphology. The network of galleries is arranged in three superimposed levels, a phenomenon not recorded anywhere else in the world. This complex, maze-like structure resulted from successive eruptions creating overlapping lava flows. Inside the tube, a wide variety of primary volcanic structures can be observed, including lava stalactites, lava cascades, side terraces, and lava lakes. These formations were created as the outer layer of the lava flow cooled and solidified, while the molten rock inside continued to move, eventually draining out and leaving the hollow tunnels behind.
A refuge for subterranean life
The cave is a significant biological site, housing a unique subterranean ecosystem. So far, 190 species have been documented within the cave, the majority being invertebrates. Of these, 44 are troglobites—species that have adapted to live their entire lives in the darkness of the cave. Fifteen of these species are new to science, discovered within Cueva del Viento itself. Inhabitants include the eyeless cockroach, Loboptera subterranea, and two species of carabid beetles, Wolltinerfia martini and Wolltinerfia tenerifae.
The cave also holds a paleontological record. Fossil remains of extinct vertebrates have been found, including the giant lizard Gallotia goliath and the giant rat Canariomys bravoi, both of which were endemic to Tenerife. Skeletal remains of birds that have disappeared from the island, such as the red-billed chough and the houbara bustard, have also been discovered. The cave's history extends to the island's first human inhabitants, the Guanches, who used parts of the cave for burials over 2,000 years ago. The first modern explorations began in 1969, leading to the mapping of this extensive underground system.