Need to Know
Now let us guide you through the island’s adventurous
past, a history of pirates and sugar cane plantations. Get to know the volcanic
origins of Madeira together with the awesome Jurassic forests and present
government.
Madeira
Archipelago was discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, it consists of the
islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of
the Selvagens and Desertas. Situated between latitude 32o22´20"
and 33o7´50" on a similar latitude to Bermuda and
Los Angeles. The surface of Madeira Island is 459 square miles
(741 km2), 35 miles long and 13 miles wide. Madeira is 378 miles
(608 Km) from the Marocco and 620 miles (1,000 km) from the European continent
(1h30m flight from Lisbon).
Madeira´s stunning coastal scenery and soaring peaks complement
a rich artistic and architectural heritage.
Vital Statistics
•
Population
Around 260 000 on all the islands. Half the population lives in Funchal,
the Capital of Madeira.
•
Language
Portuguese, with English widely spoken.
•
Time
Madeira follows Portuguese time with summer time (same as in the UK, but
one hour behind in a one-month period from late September to late October)
•
Climate
Subtropical. Warm in the summer (22-26oC) and mild in the winter
(17-22oC). The water temperature is also very pleasant year
round owing to the Gulf Stream influence. Moderate rainfall.
Porto Santo
is tailor made for sun and sea worshippers, with a dry and stable climate
that can get scorching hot in the summer.
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