Benchijigua Explained

Benchijigua
Coordinates:28.0933°N -17.2178°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Type3:Island
Subdivision Type4:Municipality
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation M:600
Postal Code:E-38811

Benchijigua is a small village on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands. It lies at the head of a ravine (the Barranco de Benchijigua) at an altitude of 600m below the Roque de Agando, some 12 km north of Playa Santiago.

Benchijigua is one of the oldest settlements on the island. It was the home of emigrants to Louisiana during Spanish rule. The emigrants settled in the community of Bencheque in St. Bernard Parish.[1]

The ferry company Fred. Olsen restored some houses here in traditional style and named one of their fast ferries Benchijigua Express.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hyland. William de Marigny. Los Isleños – A Historic Overview. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610053524/https://www.losislenos.org/history/ . 2020-06-10 . 2020-05-27. Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society of St. Bernard. en-US.
  2. http://www.insel-la-gomera.de/benchiji.htm Benchijigua und der Barranco Santiago