Travel-Island.com - Interesting Madeiran Archipelago

<BODY> <TABLE BORDER="0" WIDTH="100%" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="10" STYLE="border: 4px double #003264; font-family:Tahoma; font-size:12"> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold" WIDTH="50%"> <P>The Madeiran archipelago. Interesting snapshots on Portugal, Madeira, Porto Santo, Ihlas Desertas and the Azores islands - Atlantic Ocean.</P> </TD> <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="50%"> <P><A HREF="madeira/guide.html">Madeiran Archipelago Overview</A> - <A HREF="madeira/gallery.html">Image Gallery</A> - <A HREF="http://madeira.travel-island.com">Madeiran Archipelago</A> - Facts on History - The Beaches - <A HREF="http://reservations.bookhostels.com/tours/travel-island.com/"> Outdoor Activities</A> - Levada Walking - <A HREF="madeira/locations.html">The Villages</A> - Porto Santo - Ilhas Desertas - <A HREF="http://reservations.bookhostels.com/travel-island/"> Accommodation Reservation</A> - <A HREF="http://archipelago.travel-island.com">Locations of Interest - POI</A> - <A HREF="http://www.travel-island.com/madeira/directory/index.html"> The Open Link Directory</A> - <A HREF="reservation/options.html">Accommotadion Reservation Option</A></P> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top">Interesting facts and things about the islands of the Madeiran Archipelago and the Azores, Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago of Madeira is located 520 km from the African coast and 1,000 km from the European continent (approximately an one-and-a-half hour flight from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. It is found in the extreme south of the Tore-Madeira Ridge, a bathymetric structure of great dimensions oriented along a north-northeast to south-southwest axis that extends for 1000 kilometres. This submarine structure consists of long geomorphological relief that extends from the abyssal plain to 3500 meters; its highest submersed point is at a depth of about 150 meters (around latitude 36º N). The origins of the Tore-Madeira Ridge are not clearly established, but may have resulted from a morphological buckling of the lithosphere. The archipelago itself is a series of oceanic volcanic islands that date back to the Miocene (about 20 million years ago), and constructed from a hotspot in the Earth's crust of the African Tectonic Plate. Madeira, and the smaller Ilhas Desertas, are the youngest of these islands (dating from 4.6 to 0.7 million years), while Porto Santo, the smaller of the main islands, is the oldest (approximately 14 million years). These basaltic islands have not seen any volcanic activity within the last 6000 years.</TD> <TD VALIGN="top">The long, narrow chain of eroded volcanic cliffs and ravines at the eastern tip of Madeira is an exciting and dramatic wilderness, protected as a nature reserve because of its coastal plants. The rocky peninsula can be explored from the much-used path that starts from the car park located at the end of the south coast road.<P>Most visitors catch a glimpse of eastern Madeira they arrive, flying in over Machico, the island’s second biggest town, and driving from the airport to Funchal along the south coast highway. Away from these areas, there are wide expanses of untamed nature where no roads go. These include the whole north coast, with its exhilarating paths and vertigo-inducing cliffs. Also worth seeking out are the historic whaling village of Caniçal, the charming town of Santa Cruz and the gentle, pastoral landscape of the Santo da Serra plateau, source of the island’s wicker products.</P> <P>Ponta de São Lourenço is linked underwater to the offshore Ilhas Desertas (“Desert Isles”), which form part of the same volcanic formation. Though arid and uninhabited, these islands nevertheless host all sorts of rare and endangered wildlife, including spiders, monk seals, petrels and shearwaters. An application has been made to <U> UNESCO</U> to have the islands declared a <U> World Natural Heritage Site</U>.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top">The valley road linking Ribeira Brava and Sao Vicente via the Encumeada Pass forms the boundary between the high peaks of central Madeira and the flat, treeless moorland of the Paúl da Serra plateau to the west. Scores of ridges and ravines run down the plateau escarpment, like pleats in a skirt. Those to the north plunge almost sheer to the sea, with waterfalls that cascade for hundreds of feet. Farming villages cling to the gentler slopes to the south and west, where new roads are beginning to open up beautiful parts of the island which few visitors have yet explored.</TD> <TD VALIGN="top">Central Madeira consists almost entirely of high volcanic peaks and deep ravines. To experience this scenic grandeur to the full you really do have to walk, but thanks to some well-placed miradouros (scenic viewing points), you can come away with some memorable photographs and gain a sense of the immense visual appeal of the central mountain range even when travelling by road. Between the north and the south there are great contrasts. Soaked in sunshine, the southern slopes are densely populated, with red-tiled farmhouses lost in a sea of vines and bananas. The northern slopes are densely wooded; along the coastal strip, tiny terraces cling to the steep valley sides making a colourful patchwork of many different hues of green.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top"> <P><B>Funchal</B>: Founded in 1425, Funchal was granted city status in 1508. Many of its finest historical buildings are still intact, despite fire, piracy and earthquake. Named Funchal (“fennel”) because of the wild fennel plants found growing in abundance by the first settlers, Madeira’s capital sits on the island’s southern coast in a natural amphitheatre, hemmed in by cliffs to the east and west, and steep green mountains to the north. Its streets are paved with black-and-white mosaics, and lined by blue-flowered jacaranda trees. Numerous public parks and private gardens make this a festive city of heady scents and colours, where architecture and nature are delightfully combined. <A HREF="weather.travel-island.com">Madeira / Porto Santo 7-days weather forecast / current conditions.</A></P> <P><A HREF="http://www.prchecker.info/" TITLE="Free PageRank Checker" TARGET="_blank"> <IMG SRC="http://pr.prchecker.info/getpr.php?codex=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50cmF2ZWwtaXNsYW5kLmNvbS8=&tag=1" STYLE="border:0;" ALT="Madeira, interesting, UNESCO, Porto Santo, Ilhas Desertas, levada walking, facts on history, beaches, archipelago overview, outdoor activities, booking options, atlantic ocean, madeiran archipelago, Funchal, Capital Funchal, points of interest, around Madeira, 7 days weather forecast, image gallery, embedded map, open directory project." /></A></P> </TD> <TD VALIGN="top"> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="5" STYLE="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px"> <TR> <TD><B>When to Go</B><BR> Christmas is peak season; hotels charge double their normal rates. Easter, July and August are also busy. June is surprisingly quiet, and enjoys perfect weather. Madeira has a generally mild subtropical climate, with average temperatures ranging from 17° C in February to 23° C in September. October to March sees the highest rainfall, especially on the northern side of the island. Porto Santo tends to be fine throughout the year.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>What to Pack</B><BR> Even in winter it is warm enough to eat out of doors during the day, so you will need light clothes, with extra layers for nights and the cooler mountains. Casual wear is the norm. If you intend to walk, bring a torch, waterproofs and non-slip shoes.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>Tourist Offices</B><BR> The Portuguese tourist office has branches in most countries, but offers only basic information on Madeira. The Madeira tourist board’s website is help-ful, but infrequently updated. Funchal’s main tourist office sells guides, maps, bus timetables and tickets for cultural events.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>Passport and Visa</B><BR> Visitors can stay on Madeira for 90 days with a valid passport or recognized EU identity card and an onward or return ticket. There are no embassies on the island itself (they are all located in Lisbon). Several consulates are located in Funchal.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>Time Differences</B><BR> Madeira observes exactly the same time as the UK, throughout the year.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>Language</B><BR> Most Madeirans can converse in English. Many can also manage common French and German phrases, in addition to their native Portuguese.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><B>Customs</B><BR> As part of the European Union, Madeira imposes virtually no restrictions on imports of cigarettes and alcohol from other EU member states, as long as they are for private consumption.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="images/poi-madeira.gif" ALT="Madeira, interesting, UNESCO, Porto Santo, Ilhas Desertas, levada walking, facts on history, beaches, archipelago overview, outdoor activities, booking options, atlantic ocean, madeiran archipelago, Funchal, Capital Funchal, points of interest, around Madeira, 7 days weather forecast, image gallery, embedded map, open directory project."></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top">A snapshot on Portugal - <A HREF="portugal/guide.html"> Mainland Overview</A> - Facts on History - The Beaches - Outdoor Activities - Lisbon - Porto -Tthe major Cities of Portugal - Locations of Interest - POI - Weather</TD> <TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="macau/guide.html">About Macao</A>: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to settle the China coast and although there were scattered communities of a few isolated individuals along the Guangdong shoreline from the early 1500s it was at Ah Ma Gao that the Portuguese established a viable community in 1557. But long before any Portuguese explorer had rounded the Cape of Good Hope, seen the Indian Ocean or found the Spice Islands, the great Chinese fleets of exploration and trade had reached as far west as Mogadishu in East Africa. The high point of Chinese maritime discovery was from 1400-1450 when fleets of up to 100 vessels and carrying 28,000 men sailed systematically to Mogadishu in East Africa, to Calicut and Goa in India and to Bantam and Moluccas in the Spice Islands. By contrast, when the Portuguese came to the Pacific they had perhaps five vessels and at most 300 men. Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1487, Vasco da Gama reached Goa in 1497 and Calicut in 1498. And it took Alvares until 1513 to reach Lintin and then Canton. </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top"> </TD> <TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="cape-verde/guide.html">About Cape Verde - Cabo Verde</A>: Geography: Cape Verde (Port.: Cabo Verde) is a group of 10 Islands (9 are inhabited) located in Western Africa, in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. The climate is temperate. The lands are steep, rocky and volcanic. Seasonal hurricanes. Volcanic and seismically active. Endemic species of birds and reptiles endangered by human development.<BR> Culture : The culture has been influenced by the Portuguese and African cultures. Most popular sport is soccer. It is a tradition for friends to walk around the praça (town square). The music is influenced by Portuguese, caribbean, African and Brazilian beats. The national music is called morna. Dances include morna, passada (Zouk), Funaná, coladeira and the Batuque. Rich literature. Diet mostly based on fish, corn, rice, vegetables and fruits.<BR> The people are some of the friendliest in the world and although the food may not be to everyone's taste, the local culinary delights are worth trying. All islands have their own personalities and anyone going to Cape Verde should try to visit the main islands of Santiago, Sao Vicente and Boa Visa.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top"> </TD> <TD VALIGN="top">São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 150 kilometres apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres, respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizable southern island, is situated just north of the equator. <BR> <BR> ão Tomé is 50 km long and 32 km wide and the more mountainous of the two islands. Its peaks reach 2,024 metres. Príncipe is about 30 km long and 6 km wide. Swift streams radiating down the mountains through lush forest and cropland to the sea cross both islands. The equator lies immediately south of São Tomé Island, passing through an islet named Ilha das Rolas. <BR> <BR> An island country in the Gulf of Guinea off western Africa. Probably uninhabited at the time of European discovery in 1471, the islands were settled (1483) by the Portuguese, who held them, except for a period of Dutch rule in the 17-th century, until they gained full independence in 1975. São Tomé is the capital. Population: ca. 170,000. <BR> <BR> São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest African country in terms of population (the Seychelles being the smallest). It is the smallest country in the world that is not a former British overseas territory, a former United States trusteeship, or one of the European microstates. It is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country. <BR> <BR> Most of the people are Forro, a mixture of African and European ancestry, or Angolares, the descendants of former Angolan slaves. Languages: Portuguese (official), Creole.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN="top">Interesting island Madeira. <BR>Java Script required for this page. 2004, 2012 Travel-Island.com <BR><A HREF="about.html"> Site Notice</A></TD> <TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="madeira/map.html">Map material to Portugal, Madeira, Porto Santo, Ilhas Desertas and the Azores islands.</A></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </BODY>