Madeira - The Island

by Leo-setä

Described as a floating garden, Madeira is a luxurious island of volcanic origin in the Atlantic Ocean. With a mild subtropical climate (average temperatures ranging from 22 degrees Celsius in August to 16 degrees Celsius in February), it has the largest and most well-preserved area of Laurisilva. A forest which, 20 million years ago, occupied the Mediterranean basin in the South of Europe and North Africa, but now only exists in Macaronesia (Madeira, Azores, Canary Islands and Cape Verd). Laurisilva in Madeira is classified by UNESCO as human heritage site.Two-thirds of this autonomous region are part of the Natural Park, the demarcated region intended to preserve the richness and variety of its ecosystems, which include the Laurisilva Forest, the Savage and Desert Islands’ Natural Reserves, Garajau’s Natural Reserve, Rocha do Navio’s Natural Reserve, and Ponta de São Lourenço’s Natural Reserve. Surprisingly sinuous and hilly (approximately 50 percent is above 700 m (2 295 ft) high), the Island of Madeira’s highest peak is Pico Ruivo, reaching 1 862 m (6 108 ft) high. It has the fourth largest promontory in the world – Cabo Girão, 589 m (1 932 ft) high. In the north of the island, vegetation covers the high hill slides that dive into a usually rough sea, intersected by valleys, deep brook cols, or abundant water falls. A central ridge, which crosses the island from east to west, makes the south part of the Island an area which is sheltered from the humid winds that fustigate the north part, that is more sunny and with a more calm and inviting sea. It is also in the south that the largest cities, such as Funchal – the main city – or Machico, Santa Cruz, Câmara de Lobos, Brook Brava and Calheta, are located.