Gran Canaria, really Grand Canary (archaic), is the third largest island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa and belonging to Spain. It is located southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin.

The island was populated by the Guanches, who may have arrived as early as 500 BC. The Guanches called the island Tamaràn. It was claimed by Spain in the 15th century.

Gran Canaria's surface is 1,560 km² and its maximum altitude is 1,949 meters (Pico de Las Nieves). It has a round shape, having a diameter of just about 50 km.