To investigate the northern Canary Current system (NCCS), results from four numerical experiments of increasing complexity are examined. Experiment 1, which uses seasonal wind forcing only, shows that as expected, wind forcing is the key generative mechanism for the current, upwelling, meander, eddy, and filament structures. Experiments 2 and 3, which have the additional effects of irregular coastline geometry, show the following: capes are areas for enhanced upwelling, extensive filaments, maximum current velocities, and enhanced growth of cyclonic meanders and eddies; an embayment like the Gulf of Cadiz is a primary region for anticyclonic meander and eddy development. The results from the complex flow regime of Experiment 4, which has the additional effects of thermohaline gradients and Mediterranean Outflow, highlights the major characteristics and unique features (such as the generation of Meddies) of the NCCS with relatively close similarities to field observations. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union