Roque de Agando, La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain

A view worth a whistle

Roque de Agando is the most prominent of several protruding volcanic plugs at the center of La Gomera, one of the smallest of Spain's Canary Islands. La Gomera's topography has been compared in shape to segments of an orange, with deep ravines radiating out from an elevated center. The lay of the land led indigenous Guanche people to develop a unique form of whistled speech, which carries clearly through the valleys and can be heard from miles away. Adapted to Spanish, this communication method became known as Silbo Gomero, and is still taught in local schools.