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Madeira (pronounced [mɐdeiɾɐ] or [mɐˈdɐiʀɐ]) is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between and . The escudo was the Currency of Portugal prior to the introduction of the Euro on 1 January 1999 and was removed from circulation on Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands. The two Autonomous Regions of Portugal (Portuguese Regiões Autónomas de Portugal) are the Azores ( Região Autónoma dos Açores) and Madeira Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Although it is geographically part of Africa, some 650 km (360 mi) off its coast , it belongs politically and culturally to Europe, some 955 km (583 mi) from the mainland.
Madeira, known originally to the Romans as the Purple Islands, was rediscovered, possibly accidentally, by Portuguese sailors some time between 1418 and 1420. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago is considered to be the first discovery of the exploratory period initiated by Henry the Navigator of Portugal. The Infante Henrique Duke of Viseu ( Porto, March 4, 1394 – Sagres, November 13, 1460) pron It is a popular year-round resort, noted for its Madeira wine, flowers, and embroidery artisans, as well as its New Year's Eve celebrations that feature a spectacular fireworks show, which is the largest in the world according to the Guinness World Records. A resort is a place used for Relaxation or Recreation, attracting visitors for Holidays or Vacations Resorts are places towns or sometimes Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U [1]
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Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands, the position of which with reference to the Fortunate Islands, or Canaries, may indicate Madeira islands. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author In the Fortunate Isles also called the Isles (or Islands) of the Blessed (μακάρων νη̂σοι makárôn nêsoi) Heroes and The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish Plutarch (Sertorius, 75 AD) referring to the military commander Quintus Sertorius (d. Quintus Sertorius ( 123 BC - 72 BC) was a Roman statesman and general born in Nursia, in Sabine territory around 124 BC 72 BC), relates that after his return to Cadiz, "he met seamen recently arrived from Atlantic islands, two in number, divided from one another only by a narrow channel and distant from the coast of Africa 10,000 furlongs. Cádiz ( Spanish:) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a province which is one of eight A furlong is a measure of Distance in Imperial units and US customary units. They are called Isles of the Blest. " The estimated distance from Africa, and the closeness of the two islands, seem to indicate Madeira and Porto Santo. Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean
There is a romantic tale about two lovers, Robert Machim and Anna d'Arfet in time of the King Edward III of England, fleeing from England to France in 1346, were driven off their course by a violent storm, and cast on the coast of Madeira at the place subsequently named Machico, in memory of one of them. Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. History Machico was the firts place in the island of Madeira were the Portuguese explorers João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu On the evidence of a portolan dated 1351, preserved at Florence, Italy, it would appear that Madeira had been discovered long before that date by Portuguese vessels under Genoese captains. A portolan (derived from the Latin word portus, port is an early modern European navigation chart, dating from the Thirteenth century or later Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany Genoa ( Genova, ˈdʒɛːnova in Italian; Zena in Genoese and Ligurian; Genua in Latin and archaically in English
In 1419 two captains of Prince Henry the Navigator, João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira, were driven by a storm to the island they named Porto Santo. The Infante Henrique Duke of Viseu ( Porto, March 4, 1394 – Sagres, November 13, 1460) pron João Gonçalves Zarco, later João Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara de Lobos or simply João Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara (c Tristão Vaz Teixeira (c 1395 &ndash 1480 was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean They gave this name (meaning Holy Harbour) in gratitude for their rescue from shipwreck. The next year an expedition was sent to populate the island, in which the two captains, together with captain Bartolomeu Perestrello, took possession of the islands on behalf of the Portuguese crown. Bartolomeu Perestrello 1st Capitão Donatário, Lord and Governor of the Island of Porto Santo (c
The islands started to be settled circa 1420 or 1425. In September 23, 1433, the name Ilha da Madeira (Madeira Island or "island of the wood") appears in a map, by the first time, in a document. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English
The three captain-majors had led, in the first trip, the respective families, a small group of people of the minor nobility, people of modest conditions and some old prisoners of the kingdom. Captain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor (sometimes Capitão Donatário) for colonial officers put in charge Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary (see Hereditary titles) or for a lifetime To gain the minimum conditions for the development of agriculture, they had to rough-hew a part of the dense forest of laurisilva and to construct a large number of canals (levadas), since in some parts of the island, they had water in excess while in other parts water was scarce. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Laurisilva or laurissilva ("laurel forest" is an endemic type of Humid subtropical Laurel forest found on several A levada (Portuguese for "led" is an irrigation channel or Aqueduct on the island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean (about southwest of In the earliest times, fish constituted about half of the settlers' diet, together with vegetables and fruit. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two The first local agricultural activity with some success was the raising of wheat. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Initially, the colonists produced wheat for their own sustenance, but later began to export wheat to Portugal.
The discoveries of Porto Santo and Madeira were first described by Gomes Eannes de Azurara in Chronica da Descoberta e Conquista da Guiné. Gomes Eannes de Zurara, Gomes Eanes de Zurara (c 1410 – 1474 was the second of the notable Portuguese Chroniclers after Fernão Lopes. (Eng. version by Edgar Prestage in 2 vols. issued by the Hakluyt Society, London, 1896-1899: The Chronicle of Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. ) Arkan Simaan relates these discoveries in French in his novel based on Azurara's Chronicle: L’Écuyer d’Henri le Navigateur, published by Éditions l’Harmattan, Paris. Arkan Simaan is a French historian of science and a novel writer
However, in time grain production began to fall. To get past the ensuing crisis Henry decided to order the planting of sugarcane - rare in Europe and, therefore, considered a spice - promoting, for this, the introduction of Sicilian beets as the first specialized plant and the technology of its agriculture. The Infante Henrique Duke of Viseu ( Porto, March 4, 1394 – Sagres, November 13, 1460) pron Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Sugarcane production became a leading factor in the island's economy, and increased the demand for labour. Genoese and Portuguese traders were attracted to the islands. Sugarcane cultivation and the sugar production industry developed until the 17th century. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar
Since the 17th century, Madeira's most important product has been its wine, sugar production having since moved on to Brazil, São Tomé and Principe, and elsewhere. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is an Island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial Madeira wine was perhaps the most popular luxury beverage in the colonial Western Hemisphere during the 17th and 18th centuries. The British Empire occupied Madeira as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, a friendly occupation which concluded in 1814 when the island was returned to Portugal, and the British did much to popularise Madeira wine. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Peninsular War or Spanish War of Independence pitted an alliance of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal against France Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula.
When, after the death of king John VI of Portugal, his usurper son Miguel of Portugal seized power from the rightful heir, his niece Maria II, and proclaimed himself 'Absolute King', Madeira held out for the Queen under the governor José Travassos Valdez until Miguel sent an expeditionary force and the defence of the island was overwhelmed by crushing force. John VI (13 May 1767 &ndash 10 March 1826 ( Portuguese João, ʒʊˈɐ̃ũ the Clement ( Port Miguel I ( Miguel Maria do Patrocínio João Carlos Francisco de Assis Xavier de Paula Pedro de Alcântara António Rafael Gabriel Joaquim José Gonzaga Evaristo de Bragança e Maria II ( April 4, 1819 &ndash November 15, 1853) was Queen of Portugal from 1826 to 1853 José Lúcio Travassos Valdez ( February 23 1787 - July 10 1862) 1st and sole Baron and 1st Count do Bonfim (bõˈfĩ Valdez was forced to flee to England under the protection of the Royal Navy (September 1828).
In 1921, the last Austro-Hungarian Emperor Charles I was deported to Madeira, after an unsuccessful coup d'état. "Karl I" redirects here For the prince of Liechtenstein see Karl I of Liechtenstein. He died there one year later and is buried in Monte (Funchal). Monte ( Portuguese for mountain is a parish in the district and a suburb of Funchal in the Madeira Islands ( Portugal)
In July 1, 1976, following the democratic revolution of 1974, Portugal granted political autonomy to Madeira. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Carnation Revolution (Revolução dos Cravos was an almost bloodless military-led pro-democratic Coup d'état, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon The region now has its own government and legislative assembly.
The Autonomous Region of Madeira is composed of Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, Desertas Islands and Savage Islands. Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean The Desertas Islands ( Portuguese: Ilhas Desertas, pron 'iʎɐʃ dɨ'zɛɾtɐʃ literally Desert Islands) are a small Portuguese Archipelago Savage Islands, also referred to as the Selvagens Islands, ( Portuguese: Ilhas Selvagens, pron
Funchal, the capital of Madeira Island, is on the south coast of the principal island, in . Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior Other main cities are: Porto Santo Town (also known as Vila Baleira), Ribeira Brava, Machico, Câmara de Lobos, Santa Cruz and Santana. Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean Vila Baleira is a cityin the island and municipality of Porto Santo. Parishes The 4 parishes of Ribeira Brava include Campanário Ribeira Brava Serra de Água History Machico was the firts place in the island of Madeira were the Portuguese explorers João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Coat of arms Its coat of arms' color is blue with two monk seals in the middle of a golden Anchor. Parishes The 5 parishes of Santa Cruz include Camacha Caniço (city Gaula Santa Cruz Persons D Teodósio Clemente de Gouveia (1889 - 1962 Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church Parishes The
The archipelago lies about 360 miles from the coast of Africa, 535 miles from Lisbon, 230 miles from Gran Canaria, and 480 miles from Santa Maria, the nearest of the Azores. Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. Gran Canaria (in English " Grand Canary " is an island of the Canary Islands, an Archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from The island of Santa Maria ( pron 'sɐ̃tɐ mɐ'ɾiɐ Portuguese for Saint Mary) is an island located in the southeastern part of the Azores The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from
Madeira Island is the largest island of the group with an area of 741 km², a length of 30 geographical miles (57 km), a breadth of 13 miles (22 km) at its widest point, and a coastline of 80 to 90 miles. Its longer axis lies east and west, along which lies a mountain chain with a mean altitude of 4,000 feet (1,220 metres), considered the backbone of the island from which many deep ravines radiate outward to the coast. Its most famous sea cliff, the Cabo Girão, is the worlds second highest. Cabo Girão is a steep sea Cliff located in the southern part of the Atlantic Portuguese Madeira Islands. The highest point on the island is Pico Ruivo, at 1,862 meters (6,107 feet). Pico Ruivo is the highest peak on the Madeira Islands. It can be reached only by foot usually either from Pico do Arieiro (3rd highest after a strenuous hike [2]
In the south, there is very little left of the indigenous laurisilva subtropical rainforest which once covered the whole island (the original settlers set fire to the island to clear the land for farming) and gave it the name it now bears (Madeira means "wood" in Portuguese). Laurisilva or laurissilva ("laurel forest" is an endemic type of Humid subtropical Laurel forest found on several Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. However, in the north, the valleys contain native trees of fine growth. These laurisilva forests, notably the forests on the northern slopes of Madeira Island, are designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16
A long, narrow, and comparatively low rocky promontory forms the eastern extremity of the island, on which lies a tract of calcareous sand known as the Fossil Bed. It contains land shells and numerous bodies resembling the roots of trees, probably produced by infiltration.
Madeira Island's geographical position and mountainous landscape result in a very pleasant climate which varies between the north side, south side, and smaller islands groups like Porto Santo and Savages. The mean annual temperature on the coastline can reach more than 20°C in the south. With its mild humidity, the weather of the island is classified as oceanic subtropical and with its low rain level, desertic on the Savages. Influenced by the Gulf Stream, sea water temperature varies between 26°C during the summer and 17°C in the winter. The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that
Just like the districts of mainland Portugal, Madeira is also further subdivided into 11 municipalities:
| Municipalities | Population (2006) [3] |
Area (km²) | Main city/town | Freguesias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funchal | 100,847 | 75. "Freguesia" ( pron fɾɛgɨ'ziɐ is the Portuguese term for Civil parish, a secondary Local administrative unit in Portugal Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior 7 | Funchal | 10 |
| Câmara de Lobos | 35,150 | 52. Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior Coat of arms Its coat of arms' color is blue with two monk seals in the middle of a golden Anchor. 6 | Câmara de Lobos | 2 |
| Santa Cruz | 32,696 | 68. Coat of arms Its coat of arms' color is blue with two monk seals in the middle of a golden Anchor. Parishes The 5 parishes of Santa Cruz include Camacha Caniço (city Gaula Santa Cruz 0 | Santa Cruz | 5 |
| Machico | 21,321 | 67. Parishes The 5 parishes of Santa Cruz include Camacha Caniço (city Gaula Santa Cruz History Machico was the firts place in the island of Madeira were the Portuguese explorers João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu 6 | Machico | 5 |
| Ribeira Brava | 12,523 | 64. History Machico was the firts place in the island of Madeira were the Portuguese explorers João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Parishes The 4 parishes of Ribeira Brava include Campanário Ribeira Brava Serra de Água 9 | Ribeira Brava | 4 |
| Calheta | 11,856 | 110. Parishes The 4 parishes of Ribeira Brava include Campanário Ribeira Brava Serra de Água 3 | Calheta | 8 |
| Santana | 8,491 | ?? 136. Persons D Teodósio Clemente de Gouveia (1889 - 1962 Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church Parishes The 3 ?? | Santana | 2 |
| Ponta do Sol | 8,189 | 46. Persons D Teodósio Clemente de Gouveia (1889 - 1962 Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church Parishes The There is also Ponta do Sol in Cape Verde, see Ponta do Sol Cape Verde Background Historically the main sources of industry were agriculture 8 | Ponta do Sol | 3 |
| São Vicente | 6,063 | 80. There is also Ponta do Sol in Cape Verde, see Ponta do Sol Cape Verde Background Historically the main sources of industry were agriculture Parishes The 3 parishes of São Vicente include Boa Ventura Ponta Delgada São Vicente 8 | São Vicente | 3 |
| Porto Santo (Island) | 4,388 | 42. Parishes The 3 parishes of São Vicente include Boa Ventura Ponta Delgada São Vicente Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean 4 | Vila Baleira | 1 |
| Porto Moniz | 2,762 | 82. Vila Baleira is a cityin the island and municipality of Porto Santo. Parishes The 4 parishes of Porto Moniz include Achadas da Cruz Porto Moniz Ribeira da Janela 6 | Porto Moniz | 4 |
| Total | 244,286 | 768. Parishes The 4 parishes of Porto Moniz include Achadas da Cruz Porto Moniz Ribeira da Janela 0 | Total | 47 |
Today Funchal is a modern city with about 100,000 inhabitants. Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior Funchal is located in a unique area; the natural geological features form an "amphitheatre" surrounding the city, which begins at the harbour and rises almost 1200 metres high on gentle slopes. Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior An amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is an open-air venue for spectator sports concerts rallies or theatrical performances This provides a natural shelter and was what attracted the first settlers.
Madeira's capital for more than five centuries, Funchal is said to have been named as such because of the abundance of fennel (funcho in Portuguese) growing there. Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare) is a Plant Species in the Genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species in the genus by Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal.
The harbour and climate combined with an excellent geographical position allowed Funchal to have a rapid population growth. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of
Probably the most central point is the Sé Cathedral. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral Built between 1493 and 1514 by Pêro Annes in Manueline style it represents one of Madeira's numerous treasures. The Manueline, or Portuguese late Gothic is the sumptuous composite Portuguese style of architectural ornamentation of the first decades of the 16th century
| Madeira Island | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,862 m (6,109 ft) |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | shield volcano |
| Age of rock | over 5 million years |
| Last eruption | 6,500 years ago |
Madeira Island is the top of a massive shield volcano that rises about 6 km from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, on an underwater mountain range called Tore, which stands on the African plate. In topography a summit is a point on a surface which is higher in Elevation than all points immediately adjacent to A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Mountains can be characterized in several ways Some mountains are Volcanoes and can be characterized by the type of lava and eruptive history A shield volcano is a large Volcano with shallow-sloping sides The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the A shield volcano is a large Volcano with shallow-sloping sides The volcano formed atop an east-west rift in the oceanic crust. In Geology, a rift is a place where the Earth 's crust and Lithosphere are being pulled apart and is an example of Extensional tectonics Oceanic crust is the part of Earth's Lithosphere that surfaces in the Ocean basins Construction of the bulk of the volcano began during the Miocene Epoch over 5 million years ago and continued into the Pleistocene until about 700,000 years ago. The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period This was followed by extensive erosion, producing two large amphitheaters open to south in the central part of the island. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind
Volcanic activity later resumed, producing scoria cones and lava flows atop the older eroded shield. Volcanic cones are among the simplest Volcano formations in the world Lava is molten rock expelled by a Volcano during an eruption When first expelled from a volcanic vent it is a Liquid at Temperatures The most recent volcanic eruptions were on the west-central part of the island only 6,500 years ago, creating more cinder cones and lava flows. A cinder cone or scoria cone is a steep conical Hill of volcanic fragments that accumulate around and downwind from a Volcanic vent.
Madeira has three endemic birds: Zino's Petrel, the Trocaz pigeon and the Madeira Firecrest. This article is a parent page for a series of articles providing information about Endemism among birds in the World's various zoogeographic zones Zino's Petrel ( Pterodroma madeira) is a small Seabird in the Gadfly petrel Genus. The Trocaz Pigeon ( Columba trocaz) is a member of the family Columbidae ( Doves and pigeons which is endemic to Madeira. The Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis, is a very small Passerine bird between 8 and 8
It is also of importance for other breeding seabirds, including the Madeiran Storm-petrel, North Atlantic Little Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater. Seabirds are Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment Madeiran Petrel redirects here For Madeira Petrel ( Pterodroma madeira) see Zino's Petrel The Madeiran Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma The North Atlantic Little Shearwater ( Puffinus baroli) also known as the Macaronesian Shearwater, is a small Shearwater which breeds in the North The Cory's Shearwater ( Calonectris diomedea) is a large Shearwater in the Seabird family Procellariidae.
The Macaronesia region harbours an important floral diversity. Macaronesia is a modern collective name for several groups of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean near Europe and North Africa belonging In fact, the archipelago's forest composition and maturity are quite similar to the forests found in the Tertiary period that covered Southern Europe and Northern Africa millions of years ago. The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately The term Southern Europe can have four definitions geographical political climatic phytogeographic North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan
The great biodiversity of Madeira is phytogeographically linked to the Mediterranean region, Africa, America and Australia, and interest in this phytogeography has been increasing in recent years due to the discovery of some epiphytic bryophyte species with non-adjacent distribution. Biodiversity is the variation of Life forms within a given Ecosystem, Biome or for the entire Earth. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Madeira also has many endemic species of fauna – mostly invertebrates but also some vertebrates such as the native bat, some lizards species, and some birds as already mentioned. These islands have more than 200 species of land molluscs (snails and slugs), some with very unusual shell shape and colours.
The island of Madeira is wet in the northwest but dry in the southeast. A levada (Portuguese for "led" is an irrigation channel or Aqueduct on the island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean (about southwest of In the 16th century the Portuguese started building levadas to carry water to the agricultural regions. The most recent was made in the 1940s. Madeira is very mountainous, and building the levadas was often difficult. Many are cut into the sides of mountains, and it was also necessary to dig 25 miles of tunnels.
Today the levadas not only supply water to the southern parts of the island but provide hydro-electric power. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water There are over 1350 miles of levadas and they provide a remarkable network of walking paths. Some provide easy and relaxing walks through beautiful countryside, but others are narrow, crumbling ledges where a slip could result in serious injury or death.
Two of the most popular levadas to hike are the Levada do Caldeirão Verde and the Levada do Caldeirão do Inferno which should not be attempted by hikers prone to vertigo or without torches and helmets. The Levada do Caniçal is a much easier walk, running 7. 1 miles from Maroços to the Caniçal Tunnel. It is known as the mimosa levada because mimosa trees are found all along the route. Mimosa is a Genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae.
The setting-up of the Free Industrial Zone has led to the installation, under more favourable conditions, of infrastructure, production shops and essential services for small and medium-sized industrial enterprises. Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior The Free Zone of Madeira, also called the Madeira International Business Centre, being a tax-privileged economic area, provides an incentive for companies, offering them financial and tax advantages via a whole range of activities exercised in the Industrial Free Zone, the Off-Shore Financial Centre, the International Shipping Register organisation, and the International Service Centre.
The services sector makes the largest contribution to the formation of the regional gross value added as opposed to the agricultural sector, for which the share has continuously declined in the regional economy. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture
Over the last few years, the regional economy has managed to open up and establish more internal and external competitiveness, so that its companies have become internationalised.
The largest industries are associated with the activities of food, beverages (and especially Madeira wine) and construction. A drink, or beverage, is a Liquid specifically prepared for Human consumption Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure
Tourism is an important sector in the region's economy since it contributes 20% to the region's GDP, providing support throughout the year for commercial, transport and other activities and constituting a significant market for local products. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another The share in Gross Value Added of hotels and restaurants (9%) also highlights this phenomenon. A restaurant is a retail establishment that serves prepared Food to Customers. The island of Porto Santo, with its 9 km long beach and its climate, is totally devoted to tourism. Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean Over the past decade it has recorded a substantial increase in its hotel accommodation capacity.
Development in Madeira is considered to have potential since the necessary infrastructure has been established and adequate investment incentives have been introduced for expanding its hotel and catering structure in a controlled manner. Conservation of its nature is important as it is one of tourists' main reasons for visiting Madeira.
Visitors are mainly from the European Union, with German, British, Scandinavian and Portuguese tourists providing the main contingents. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The average annual occupancy rate was 57. 4% in 2001, reaching its maximum in March and April, when it exceeds 70%.
The Islands have two airports, one in Santa Cruz (known as Funchal Airport (FNC)) on the Island of Madeira and the other in the city of Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island. The Madeira islands and Funchal has an extensive public transportation system Madeira Airport, also known as Funchal Airport and Santa Catarina Airport, is an international Airport located near Funchal, Madeira Parishes The 5 parishes of Santa Cruz include Camacha Caniço (city Gaula Santa Cruz Madeira Airport, also known as Funchal Airport and Santa Catarina Airport, is an international Airport located near Funchal, Madeira Vila Baleira is a cityin the island and municipality of Porto Santo. Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean Flights to the islands are mostly made from Lisbon and Porto, but there are also direct flights from other major European cities and other countries, like Brazil, Venezuela and South Africa. Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
In the past Funchal airport was infamous for its runway, which was short and was built on a high embankment but which fell away abruptly to the sea and was often troubled by difficult upwinds which tended to uplift aircraft when landing. In the past the largest airliners that were able to use the airport were the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, but recently the runway has been realigned and extended to 2. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout 7km, enabling almost any modern airliner to visit the island, including the Boeing 747-400, one of the biggest airliners today. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
European Union citizens of the Schengen Treaty area can enter the islands freely, while those from other regions need identification. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The term Schengen Agreement is used for two agreements concluded among European states in 1985 and 1990 which deal with the abolition of systematic Border controls
Transport between the two main islands is done by plane or by ferries, the latter also allowing for the transportation of vehicles. Visiting the interior of the islands is now very easy, due to major road developments, known as the Via Rapids, on the islands during Portugal's economic boom. Modern roads reach all points of interest on the islands. The old, curving mountain roads are still an excellent way to tour the island. Funchal has an extensive public transportation system. Bus companies, including Horarios do Funchal which has been operating for over one hundred years, have regularly scheduled routes to all points of interest on the island.
When the Portuguese discovered the island of Madeira in 1419, it was completely uninhabited by humans, with no aboriginal population at all. The island was settled by Portuguese people, especially farmers from the Minho region[3], meaning that Madeirans (Portuguese: Madeirenses), as they are called, are ethnic Portuguese, though they have developed their own distinct regional identity and cultural traits. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west Minho ( pron. 'miɲu is a historical Province of Portugal. It was established as an official province in 1936 and dissolved in 1976 Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal.
The region has a total population of just under 250,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live on the main island of Madeira where the population density is 337/km²; meanwhile only around 4,500 live on the Porto Santo Island where the population density is 112/km². Porto Santo Island ( pron 'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean
The following people were either born or have lived part of their lives in Madeira:
The islands are noted as the source of Madeira wine. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (1837-1880 was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Goa. Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. Alberto João Cardoso Gonçalves Jardim, GCIH, pron. aɫ'bɛɾtu ʒu'ɐ̃ũ ʒɐɾ'dĩ (born Madeira Island, Funchal, Santa Luzia Ana da Silva is a founding member of The Raincoats. In February 2005 she released a solo album The Lighthouse on Chicks on Speed Records. Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s The Raincoats are a Post-punk band and were formed in 1977 by Ana da Silva ( vocals, Guitar) and Gina Birch (vocals António de Abreu was a Portuguese Navigator and naval officer ( 16th century, born in Madeira) Artur de Sousa, known for his nickname Pinga ( July 30, 1909 in Funchal – July 12, 1963 in Porto) was a Club Sport Marítimo, or just Marítimo ( pron mɐ'ɾitimu locally) is a Portuguese Sports club best-known for its Football team Futebol Clube do Porto ( pron futɨ'bɔɫ 'klub(ɨ du 'poɾtu - short FC Porto or FCP - is a Portuguese Sports club best known Catarina Fagundes (born April 8, 1977 in Funchal Madeira) is a Portuguese Sailor. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board also commonly called a sailboard usually two to five meters long and powered by a single sail Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH (kɾɨʃˈtiɐnu ʁuˈnaɫdu born 5 February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira) is a Portuguese footballer The Portugal national football team is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF finishing 4th at the last World Cup. For the Australian Rules position see Midfielder (Australian Rules. Pestana Group is currently the largest Portuguese tourism and leisure group its hotel chain PH&R ( Pestana Hotels and Resorts) has 38 hotels and more than 6500 Fátima Lopes, ComIH (born March 8 1965) is a Portuguese Fashion designer. Fabio Machado is a portuguese mandolin playerHe started studying Mandolin at the age of 9 years and joined Madeira Mandolin Orchestra as Concertmaster Jaime Ornelas Camacho, (born 1911 was the first President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Portugal, and a member of the Madeiran branch of the popular An entrepreneur is a person who has possession over a company enterprise, or Venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome Banco Comercial Português ("Portuguese Commercial Bank" also known as BCP was founded in 1985 and is the largest Bank of Portugal |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central João Filipe Gaspar Rodrigues, better known as João Rodrigues, (born November 2, 1971) is a Portuguese Windsurfer from Funchal The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board also commonly called a sailboard usually two to five meters long and powered by a single sail José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo, GCIH, most commonly known as Joe Berardo, (born July 4, 1944, in Madeira, José Lúcio Travassos Valdez ( February 23 1787 - July 10 1862) 1st and sole Baron and 1st Count do Bonfim (bõˈfĩ José Vicente de Freitas GCTE, pron ʒu'zɛ vi'sẽt(ɨ dɨ 'fɾɐitɐʃ ( Calheta, Madeira, 22 January 1869 "Karl I" redirects here For the prince of Liechtenstein see Karl I of Liechtenstein. Luis Jardim (sometimes credited as Louis Jardim is a Portuguese percussionist born in the Madeira Island, best known for his work with producer Trevor Horn The ukulele (ˌjʉːkəˈlɛɪli from ʻukulele /ˌʔukuˈlele/ variantly spelled ukelele (particularly in the UK) or alternatively abbreviated uke Manoel Dias Soeiro (1604&ndash November 20, 1657) better known by his Hebrew name Menasseh Ben Israel (also Menasheh ben Yossef ben Yisrael Spanish and Portuguese Jews are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardim who have their main ethnic origins within the crypto-Jewish communities of the Iberian Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Moisés Constantino Henriques (born February 1, 1987 in Funchal, Portugal) is a professional Australian cricketer who currently The New South Wales Blues (referred to as the Speed Blitz Blues for sponsorship purposes are an Australian first class cricket team based in Nadia Almada (born Jorge Leodoro on 28 January 1977 is a Madeiran Reality television star best-known for being the first Transsexual winner of series Big Brother 5 in 2004 was the fifth series of Big Brother in the UK, a reality television show shown on Channel 4 Paul Langerhans ( July 25 1847 - July 20 1888) was a German pathologist, physiologist biologist. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Pathology (from Greek grc πάθος pathos, "fate harm" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study and Foundations of modern biology There are five unifying principles Pedro Macedo Camacho, born September 4, 1979 in the city of Funchal, Portugal, is an award-winning Film and Video game Rigo 23 (also known as Rigo, for example Rigo 95) born ( 1966) Ricardo Gouveia, is a Portuguese Muralist, painter A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. Vânia Fernandes (born 1985 is a Portuguese singer from Funchal, Madeira ( Portugal) Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. André Antoine Bernard ( 21 June 1751, Corme-Royal Saintonge — 19 October 1818, Funchal, Madeira) was a French Churches and Parishes Imaculado Coração de Maria Monte Santa Luzia Santa Maria Maior Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. The islands are also known for their exotic flowers, sub-tropical, tropical fruits and New Year's Eve celebrations with a spectacular fireworks show, considered the biggest in the world. A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes
This island now produces also banana, mangoes, papaws, guyabas, pinneapple, sugar cane, avocados, passionflower, coffee and many other fruit and specialty crops. In their gardens, inhabitants also grow coconut palms (Cocos nucifera), rubber trees, and other "exotic" plants.
Traditional pastries in Madeira usually contain local ingredients, one of the most common being mel de cana, literally sugarcane honey - molasses. The traditional cake of Madeira is called "Bolo de mel", which translates as (Sugarcane) "Honey Cake" and according to custom is never cut with a knife but broken into pieces by hand. It is a rich and heavy cake. Visitors to the island will see plentiful examples of handicraft on sale in shops. The islands have historical monuments, streets and plazas (praças) with many gardens and typical small towns.
Madeira has two football teams in the Portuguese Liga, Portugal's top league, Marítimo of Funchal and Nacional. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered The Portuguese Liga ( pron 'liɣɐ currently named Liga Sagres after its main sponsor, is the league competition for Portuguese Club Sport Marítimo, or just Marítimo ( pron mɐ'ɾitimu locally) is a Portuguese Sports club best-known for its Football team Clube Desportivo Nacional, founded in 1910 is a Portuguese football club that plays in Funchal, Madeira Islands. The Manchester United and Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Madeira and played for Nacional before going to Sporting Lisbon. The Portugal national football team is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF finishing 4th at the last World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH (kɾɨʃˈtiɐnu ʁuˈnaɫdu born 5 February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira) is a Portuguese footballer Sporting Clube de Portugal ( pron 'spɔɾtĩg 'klub(ɨ dɨ puɾtu'gaɫ referred to coloquially as Sporting, Sporting CP or erroneously Sporting [4] Marítimo has also nurtured other great players such as Pepe, now at Real Madrid, Tonel, now at Sporting and Manduca, who was transferred to Benfica. António Leonel Vilar Nogueira Sousa, aka Tonel (born April 13, 1980 in Lourosa) ( pron. Sporting Clube de Portugal ( pron 'spɔɾtĩg 'klub(ɨ dɨ puɾtu'gaɫ referred to coloquially as Sporting, Sporting CP or erroneously Sporting Manduca is a Moth Genus of the Sphingidae (hawkmoth family. The Carolina Sphinx ( Manduca sexta) is often Sport Lisboa e Benfica (spɔɾ liʒˈboɐ i bɐ̃ĩˈfikɐ commonly referred to as simply Benfica, S
Marítimo has also enjoyed various campaigns in the UEFA Cup having recorded famous results against teams such as Juventus, Leeds and Rangers. The UEFA Cup is a football competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA. Leeds United Association Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Leeds United or informally Leeds, are an English professional football Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. In 2003-04 Nacional has achieved 4th place in the Portuguese League, their best classification ever.
In recent years Madeira has had a considerable amount of success in professional basketball, with CAB Madeira having won numerous titles, especially their female team. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m CAB Madeira, or Clube Amigos do Basquete to give their full name is a professional Basketball team based in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. CAB are often seen competing in European competition such as the FIBA EuroCup, and former stars include Filipe da Silva and ex-Los Angeles Lakers player Ike Nwankwo. The International Basketball Federation ( French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball) more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Ikenna Nwankwo (born 27 December 1973 in Houston Texas) is a Nigerian-American professional Basketball player with CA Queluz
Madeira Andebol SAD, the island's only professional handball team is one of the most successful in the country, while rally car racing, fishing and golf are other popular sports played on the island. European Results 2006/07 Current Squad 2006/07 Achievements Champion of Liga Portuguesa Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, or Olympic handball) is a Team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six Rallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish.
Rugby union is also played on the island to a minor degree. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short
In 1868, Portugal issued postage stamps for Madeira, consisting of the current stamps of Portugal overprinted "MADEIRA". A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services An overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics to the face of a Postage stamp after it has been printed (although some overprints are solely in the Selvedge This continued until 1928, when a series for Madeira was issued; but this was the last to be produced until 1980 (stamps of Portugal having been valid in Madeira since 1898), when Portugal began issuing stamps inscribed "Portugal Madeira" that were valid in both Madeira and Continental Portugal, similar to those issued for the Azores. The Azores ( Açores ɐˈsoɾɨʃ or) is a Portuguese Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1500 km (950  mi) from