Portugal - Madeira - Laurisilva of Madeira

Levadas, Madeira

Sent by Andrew Zino, the CEO of Laurislva of Madeira.

The Laurisilva of Madeira consists of approximately 15,000 ha within the 27,000 ha Madeira Nature Reserve. The site conserves primary laurel forest (laurisilva), a vegetation type that is now confined to the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. The laurisilva on Madeira is the largest area of laurel forest surviving and is in very good condition, with around 90% believed to be primary forest.

Fossil evidence shows that laurisilva flora once covered much of southern Europe in the Tertiary era, 15-40 million years ago, and what is now seen in Madeira is the largest surviving relict of a virtually extinct flora of great interest. As climate change brought about its demise on continental Europe, the ocean-moderated climate of the island groups of the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands maintained relicts of this previously widespread forest type.

The laurel forest has great ecological value, playing an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the island. It provides ecological services to the island by protecting the micro-climate and maintaining water supplies by collecting and retaining water. The forest completely covers a series of very steep, V-shaped valleys leading from the plateau and east-west ridge in the centre of the island to the north coast. Ancient trees in the valley bottoms, waterfalls and cliffs provide spectacular scenery. At the higher altitudes, arborescent plants in normally herbaceous genera such as sow-thistle cling to steep cliffs and in the valley bottom giant ferns abound.

The laurisilva of Madeira is notable for its biological diversity with at least 66 vascular plant species endemic to Madeira occurring in the site.

13 liverwort species and 20 moss species are listed as rare or threatened on a European scale; and endemic animals include a species of pigeon (Madeiran long-toed pigeon, which eats the laurel fruits); a lizard species; two species of bat; and endemic subspecies of chaffinch and fire-crest. (Source)

Portugal - Madeira - Porto Santo Island

Multiviews of Porto Santo Island.

Sent by Seninho from Porto Santo Island.

This is from Wikipedia : Porto Santo Island (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpoɾtu ˈsɐ̃tu]) is a Portuguese island 43 kilometres (27 mi) northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean; it is the northernmost and easternmost island of the archipelago of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean west of Europe and Africa.

Porto Santo was officially discovered and recognized by the crown of Portugal in 1418, after captains in the service of the Infante D. Henrique came across the island and its sheltered anchorage. João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira had been ordered (by King John I) to discover new territory west of Africa, and had been sent off-course by a storm. The island's name Porto Santo (English: Holy Harbour) was derived from the sailors' stories of their discovery of a sheltered bay during the tempest, which was seen as divine deliverance.

Bartolomeu Perestrelo, a third member of the team that later explored the islands of the Madeira, became the first Captain-donatorio of Porto Santo, by royal award in November 1445.

During the first centuries of settlement, life on Porto Santo was harsh, owing to the scarcity of potable water and constant attacks by Barbary Coast pirates and French privateers.

The famous explorer Christopher Columbus married Bartolomeu Perestrelo's daughter, and for a while lived on Porto Santo.

Madeira Island - Typical Houses of Santana

MADEIRA
Typical houses of Santana.

Sent by David from Madeira Island.

This is from Wikipedia : Santana (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃ˈtɐnɐ]; from Portuguese Santa Ana, meaning Saint Anne) is a municipality along the northern coast of the archipelago of Madeira.

Santana includes six parishes, within a rugged mountainous environment, most occupying river-valleys:

* Arco de São Jorge
* Faial
* Ilha
* Santana - the parish (and town) has a population of 3439 (in 2001), in an area of 17.80 km² (a density of 193.2/km²);
* São Jorge
* São Roque do Faial

Santana parish has the largest number residents, while Arco de São Jorge is both the smallest, physically, and has the least number of residents, while Faial is the largest parish.

Santana is known for the traditional homes constructed with sloping triangular rooftops, and protected with straw. These were mainly rural homes, used by local farmers, during the settlment of the island, with white-paintd walls, red doors and windows with blue trim. Most of the surviving buildings are are tourist attractions, and maintained (for example, the straw roofs are replace every four to five years).

Santana has a few schools, one secondary school, a gymnasium, banks, a post office, a small port, beaches and squares or plazas (praças).

The main sources of industry are agriculture and tourism, while small commercial businesses are located centrally in the parish of Santana. A tourist-themed park was constructed to exhibit examples of the island's early history and culture; the Madeira Theme Park is an ample area, on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land, where visitors re-discover the cultures of Madeira and Porto Santo. This includes exhibits on the island's history, artefacts used in daily life and cultural presentations, in a scenic environment.