Geography
Landscape and Character
The diversity of Madeira’s landscape provides the conditions for a
great variety of natural habitats, accentuated by the contrasting altitudes.
Madeira can be divided into three main areas: the central mass, the western
area and eastern area. The central area is volcanic in origin, with eruptions
starting around 20 million years ago, they are thought to have finished
1.7 million years ago (all volcanoes are considered extinct).
Most of the island of Porto Santo is flat and much nearer sea level. The
island has a 6 mile (9 km) stretch of unspoilt white sandy beach. The Desertas
and Selvagens are geologically similar to Porto Santo.
Most
of Madeira’s activity happens in the capital Funchal, a bustling
city of around 120,000 inhabitants that tumbles down the hillside to the
harbour and yacht marina. Built in an enormous natural amphitheatre with
small narrow streets surrounded by green mountains.
The island offers some of the most exciting landscape in Europe. Irrigation
channels or ´levadas´ can be followed from sources high up
in the mountains, which in turn wind down spectacular cliff sides, passing
through deep tunnels to their final destination. |
