Canary Islands (The Era of Relative Peace)

The Canary Islands (Spanish: Las Islas Canarias) also known as The Canaries (Spanish: Las Canarias), are an archipelago and autonomous community of Spain located on the Atlantic Ocean, 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Morocco.

The main islands are (from largest to smallest) Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The archipelago also includes a number of islands and islets: La Graciosa, Alegranza, Isla de Lobos, Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste and Roque del Este. In ancient times, the island chain was often referred to as "the Fortunate Isles". The Canary Islands are the most southerly region of Spain and the largest and most populated archipelago of the Macaronesia region.

World War III
The Canaries served as a stop for U.S. Navy REFORGER convoys, Merchant Marine, and Civil Reserve Air Fleet transports that carried troops from North America to Europe. Ships of the Royal Navy also made stops into the islands to reinforce the Allied blockade of Gibraltar, while a task force dispatched to Falklands and South Georgia to protect against Argentine incurssions resupplied in the Canaries.

U.S. and NATO personnel coming home from the war were given rest and relaxation in the Canaries, since these islands were not affected by Soviet naval bombardment.