Where are the Canary Islands?

Search: canary islands tenerific

Why: Just watching "LOST." Don't mind me.

Answer: Near Morocco:

Also, in 1977, Tenerife was the site of the deadliest plane crash in history, with 583 killed.

Source: Google Maps

The More You Know: They're owned by Spain. A relevant history:

The sugar-based economy of the islands faced stiff competition from Spain's American colonies. Crises in the sugar market in the 19th century caused severe recessions on the islands. A new cash crop, cochineal (cochinilla), came into cultivation during this time, saving the islands' economy.

By the end of the 18th century, Canary Islanders had already emigrated to Spanish American territories, such as Havana, Veracruz, Santo Domingo,Texas, and Louisiana. These economic difficulties spurred mass emigration, primarily to the Americas, during the 19th and first half of the 20th century. From 1840 to 1890, as many as 40,000 Canary Islanders emigrated to Venezuela. Also, thousands of Canarians moved to Puerto Rico; the Spanish monarchy felt that Canarians would adapt to island life better than other immigrants from the mainland of Spain. Deeply entrenched traditions, such as the Mascaras Festival in the town of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, are an example of Canarian culture still preserved in Puerto Rico. Similarly, many thousands of Canarians emigrated to the shores of Cuba as well.

During the Spanish-American War of 1898, the Spanish fortified the islands against possible American attack, but an attack never came.