LAGUNA

laguna, or la laguna, an episcopal city and formerly the capital of the island of teneriffe, in the spanish archipelago of the canary islands. pop. (1900) 13,074. laguna is 4 m. n. by w. of santa cruz, in a plain 1800 ft. above sea-level, surrounded by mountains. snow is unknown here, and the mean annual temperature exceeds 63° f.; but the rainfall is very heavy, and in winter the plain is sometimes flooded. the humidity of the atmosphere, combined with the warm climate and rich volcanic soil, renders the district exceptionally fertile; wheat, wine and tobacco, oranges and other fruits, are produced in abundance. laguna is the favourite summer residence of the wealthier inhabitants of santa cruz. besides the cathedral, the city contains several picturesque convents, now secularized, a fine modern town hall, hospitals, a large public library and some ancient palaces of the spanish nobility. even the modern buildings have often an appearance of antiquity, owing to the decay caused by damp, and the luxuriant growth of climbing plants.