Resumen: A series of clastic dikes and tubular vents were identified in southern Tenerife (Canary Islands). These features
are the result of seismic liquefaction of a Holocene sand deposit, as the consequence of a high intensity
paleoearthquake. The peak ground acceleration (pga) and magnitude of the paleoearthquake
generating these liquefaction
features were estimated by back calculation analysis. A representative value of 0.30 ñ 0.05 g was obtained
for the pga. From this, an earthquake intensity of IX was estimated for the liquefaction site. Magnitude bound
methods and energy based approaches were used to determine the magnitude of the paleoearthquake, providing a
moment magnitudeM = 6.8. The zone in which the liquefaction structures are found has undergone tectonic uplift
and is affected by two faults. One of these faults was responsible for displacing Holocene materials. Dating of the
uplifted sand formation indicates an age of 10,081 ñ 933 years, the liquefaction features ranging from this age to
3490 ñ 473 years BP. This paleoearthquake was of much greater magnitude than those known historically. Faults
with neotectonic activity are significant features that should be borne in mind when assessing the seismic hazards
of the Canary Islands, presently considered as low and mainly of volcanic origin
