Madeira (in Portuguese Madeira ) is an archipelago depend on the Portugal, composed of the island of the same name (797 km ²) and several other small islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean at the west of the Morocco and which constitutes an autonomous region of Portugal whose Funchal is the capital. The volcanic origin, Madeira, is very eroded, its subtropical climate and its singular landscapes make of it a tourist destination very appreciated for its exoticism and its authenticity.

Policy

Since 1976 Madeira, like the the Azores, is made up in autonomous region of the Republic of Portugal, with a clean executive and a regional legislative assembly. The president of the current regional government has been Alberto João Jardim, places from there for more than 20 years.

The seat of the regional government is located at Funchal.

Geography

Situation

Funchal, main city and port of the southern part of the Madeira is located at 32° 38 ' of northern latitude, and 16° 55 ' of western longitude. It is distant approximately 660 km of the African coast, 980 of Lisbon, 400 of Gran Canaria (Capital of the the Canaries), and 880 of Santa Maria, nearest to the the Azores. By its latitude and its situation, Madeira shows all the characteristics of a subtropical island, where one finds elements of the tropical islands and islands moderated more in north.

Composition

The archipelago of Madeira also includes/understands:
  • the island of Oporto-Santo and the small islands which depend on it (43 km ²) as two groups on deserted small islands which are natural reserves:
  • the 3 “Deserted” (14 km ²);
  • 3 “Selvagens” (4 km ²);

Landscapes

The principal island, volcanic mountain of cut origin of deep valleys going down towards the ocean, has a form lengthened of is in west: its length is approximately 55 km, its width of 24, the development of its coasts of 160 km. Average altitude is of 1300 m, the culminating points are Pico Ruivo (1862  m), Pico das Torres (1850  m) and Pico C Arieiro (1  818 m). The coasts abrupt and are in general cut out, and the sand beaches end are rare. In the east, Bridged it of São Lourenço forms a frayed course and relatively relatively low which is prolonged by two small islands. On the southern part, in the west of Funchal rises the cabo Girao, one of highest cliffs of the world.

The Laurisilva , forest of bay-trees which covered the island before its colonization and gave him its name (Madeira means “Portuguese wood”), was almost entirely burned by the first colonists, and only some surfaces in the valleys in the north of the island were preserved. It was classified World heritage of UNESCO in 1999. But the forest pushed back since and of the European and tropical gasolines brought by the colonists cohabit with endemic species. The very fertile volcanic ground and moisture in mountain support the growth of an exuberant vegetation, including on almost vertical slopes.

Climate

Madeira is a subtropical island: its climate is thus very soft all the year, with a low annual thermal amplitude (16°C the winter, 23°C the summer with Funchal) and temperatures always moderated by the ocean, whose temperature varies between 17°C and 22°C. The days of strong heat are very rare even in summer, and the temperature seldom goes down below 10°C the winter. The wind blows of west in the North-West in winter (moderate circulation) and of the North-East in summer (Alizés). From where a contrast seizing between an often misty and very sprinkled northern part and a drier and more shone upon southern part, especially in summer. Precipitations vary 500  mm in the south-east of the island to more 2000  mm on the slopes north. Precipitations fall primarily from October at March (oceanic mode) and the dryness prevails from May to September (Anticyclone of the Azores) in the southern part of the island. To benefit from regular precipitations of the north and the sunning of the south of the island, Madériens built a vast canal system sinuant along the level lines (levadas), network which traverses all the island.

History

It is probable that Madeira was known as of Antiquity (the Phéniciens undoubtedly knew it). Its existence is attested as of 1351 on a Portulan of Florence and in Arab geographical documents. The first Portuguese navigators launched in the maritime explorations organized by Henri the navigator (João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira) took refuge in Oporto Santo (which they thus named in recognition of their rescue) in 1419 and took of it possession in the name of the king of Portugal. Madeira was located and approached the following year by Zarco, Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, with the current site of the port of Machico. Colonization by the Portuguese started immediately, Zarco and Vaz seeing itself allotting the governorship of Madeira, while Perestrelo became captain-governor of Oporto Santo

The island was an important point of slackening during the time of the great discoveries. Christophe Colomb remained in the archipelago, where he married Felipa Perestrello Moniz, girl of Bartolomeu Perestrelo. Important stay, since Felipa could make known in Colomb the charts of his/her father, which helped it in its discovery.

Administration

The archipelago of Madeira constitutes the Portuguese area, Região Autónoma da Madeira , which is subdivided in 11 communes ( municípios ) The archipelago constitutes one of the seven ultraperipheric areas of the European Union.

Population

At the time of its discovery by the Portuguese, Madeira was uninhabited: the current population results from colonization, primarily Portuguese. But geographically, it is to be attached to Africa rather than in Europe.

The population of the Madeira is of approximately: 275000 inhabitants of mainly Portuguese ascent. They in great majority (90%) of Catholic religion with one are évêché in Funchal. More than 50% of the population concentrate on less than 7% of the surface, in particular on the southernmost coast, where is the Funchal capital (: 130000 inhabitants). This one gathers 45% of the total population, and around it the principal hotel structures concentrate.

Economy

The economy of the area rests primarily on agriculture and tourism, main resource. Agriculture produces bananas intended for the local market and subway, flowers, and the Madeira wine which enjoys a great reputation to export. Industry is diversified little, it is especially in artisanal matter, with the production of embroideries, tapestries, articles of basket making. The free zone of Madeira concentrates financial, industrial and commercial activities ensured by foreign firms attracted by advantageous tax incentives. The European Community contributed in an important way to the development infrastructures by the means of subsidies of FEDER. There is in particular very important work of adaptation of the highway network, made difficult by the very mountainous configuration of the island.

Tourism

Tourism is an important sector of the economy of the area since it contributes for 20% to GNP, supporting all the year the linked activities with the trade and transport and providing an outlet to the local productions. The share of the hotels and the restaurants in the GNP (9%) also testifies to this importance. The island of Oporto Santo, which enjoys a sunny climate and has a 9 km length sand beach, is entirely devoted to tourism. These ten last years she knew a strong increase in her hotel capacities.

In 2005 Madeira received more than 850.000 visitors. The tourists come mainly from the European Union, in particular of the the United Kingdom, Germany, the Portugal and Scandinavia. The frequentation is with her in March maximum - April and from July to October. The developmental perspectives envisage to carry the hotel capacity to 39.000 beds in 2012 (for approximately 29.000 in 2005). The principal airport of Madeira is located at Santa Cruz. The lengthening of the track to 2781 meters in 2000, which makes it possible to practically receive all the types of planes, and the opening of a new terminal in 2002, facilitated the development of tourism. Madeira is connected to Europe (mainly Lisbon and Oporto) like with the South America and the the Azores.

The assets of Madeira rest mainly on its landscapes, mountains of volcanic origin escarpées and often spectacular, on its soft climate all the year and on its abundant and varied flora. One of the tourist main activities on the Madeira is the excursion along the Levadas, canals irrigation dug since the 16th century.

Sport

The archipelago is represented, in the sport of on the level thus the island counts two formations of football evolving/moving on the more national level. Marítimo and the CD Nacional even represented Portugal through the cut of the UEFA. Madeira is also present in Handball, Basketball with more at the national level as well in the male categories as female.

Funchal is one of the required passage at the time of the races of veils in particular with the Jacques Vabre Transatlantic race.

Every year the Rally Vinho Madeira test cash for the championship of Europe is organized.

Madeira wine

In Madeira, the vines are generally very high and in the shape of arbors, but they also exist out of rib stall. They produce a liqueur wine which is very appreciated with export; they are besides the British who supported of it, in the beginning, the development and acquired the monopoly gradually of it. Madeira was the only wine which could be exported towards the British colonies of America without forwarding by a British port. Napoleon i, from passage to Madeira during his voyage towards the exile of Grey waxbill, accepted some in gift of the British governor of the island.

Its mode of development is due for a share randomly: in order to best preserve during navigation in the Tropics, one supplemented it with alcohol of cane with sugar. It is by noting that this mixture, agitated during weeks in the overheated compartments of the ships, acquired remarkable gustatory qualities which one tried to reproduce these conditions: the mixed alcohol wine is brewed and drying oven with 50  °C during several weeks to produce Madeira, titrated with 18°, and from which one distinguishes four varieties: Malvasia (soft, more sweetened), Bual (semi-soft), Verdelho (miss) and Sercial (dry). This wine can be preserved during tens of years without evolving/moving significantly.

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