Scientists have discovered that Lanzarote and the other eastern Canary Islands of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria used to be far greener and wetter than they are today.

A team from the USA examined fossil and snail shells found in ancient soil samples.  From which they have been able to conclude that these semi arid islands have become progressively drier over the last 50,000 years.

Research was conducted by by Yurena Yanes and Crayton J. Yapp, of the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  Their studies revealed a significant difference between in the oxygen isotope levels of fossilized land shells to levels today.  So suggesting that humidity levels would have been much higher on the islands in the past.  Before entering into a longer term decline as a result of global cooling and glaciations.