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Timanfaya National Park, in Lanzarote, is preparing for an event that’s a little different - an act that’s part ceremony, part message in a bottle to times yet to come. On Friday October 3 at 12.30pm, the Mancha Blanca Visitor Centre will host the closing of the park’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations with the burial of a time capsule right in the volcanic heart of Lanzarote.

 

Inside the capsule, nestled within a sturdy steel container, will be three items both simple and profound. Illustrations of the park’s unique plants and animals, species found nowhere else on earth, will tell a story of nature’s wonders. Accompanying these will be a piece of microplastic found washed up on the park’s shores, a quiet reminder of humanity’s footprint in even the most wild places. Last but not least, a volcanic scoria stone, returned by a visitor who had taken it from the park, serves as a symbol of respect and the ability to make things right.

 

Acting like a letter to future generations, the capsule embodies a message: to protect nature’s beauty, learn from past missteps, and uphold a shared responsibility moving forward.

 

Throughout the past year, Timanfaya has been more than a destination, it’s turned into a lively open-air laboratory. More than eighty experts across fields from geology to ethnography have gathered, sharing knowledge and deepening the understanding of this extraordinary landscape. The park’s anniversary buzz from talks to social media has knitted together the community of Tinajo and Yaiza, while inviting the wider world to experience its spirit.

 

Speeches by Minister Mariano H. Zapata, curator Pascual Gil, and President Oswaldo Betancort are planned, but the moment everyone will remember is when the capsule descends into the volcanic earth.

 

This ritual will act as a powerful metaphor for a land forged by fire yet committed to nurturing a sustainable future. It stands as a testament to who we are today and a hope that those who inherit this legacy will cherish and protect it with care.

 

 

Image: wikicommons