This area, which extends from 565 to 1561 m up to the summit of the Chinyero volcano, is characterised by a high concentration of volcanoes, which give rise to the most recent sector of the Abeque ridge. This ridge is the site of two of Tenerife's historic eruptions: the Arenas Negras eruption in 1706, which destroyed part of the town and port of Garachico, and the Chinyero eruption in 1909. The Chinyero volcano is a monogenic volcano located close to Teide and is currently inactive. The last volcanic eruption took place on 8 November 1909 and ceased nine days later, making it the last volcanic eruption to have taken place in Tenerife.
The protected area, due to the different degree of colonisation in the area, constitutes a place of scientific interest for the study of ecological succession. It is also a representative sample of the historical volcanism of the Canary Islands. The reserve has also been declared a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA).