King Juba II: The North African monarch who discovered the Canary Islands

The ancient history of Algeria features King Juba II, a visionary ruler who elevated his kingdom into a significant hub of knowledge and wealth. During the first century BC, he commissioned a major scientific naval expedition into the Atlantic Ocean. Upon discovering an uninhabited archipelago, his explorers encountered large breeds of wild dogs. Consequently, the king named the islands "Insulae Canariae"—Latin for "islands of the dogs"—which eventually evolved into the name we recognize today: the Canary Islands.