Lanzarote Island is an island in the Canary Islands, Las Palmas Province. The name of the island comes from the name of Genoese merchant Lancelotto Malocello, who visited the island in the fourteenth century. Lanserote is the northernmost and easternmost island in the Canary Islands archipelago. It is known as the "fire-breathing island". The island is 140 km from the coast of Africa and 1000 km from mainland Europe. It is divided into 7 municipalities, the most populous of which is Arrecife - the capital of the island.