Madeira Islands
Casa Velha do Palheiro
Choupana Hills
Quinta do Furão
Madeira Wind Birds
WindsorAbout Madeira
“I do not know a spot on the globe which so astonishes and delights on first arrival as the Island of Madeira†Captain F. Marryat, 1812. Almost two hundred years later, the scenery is a bit different but Nature is preserved and Madeira Birdwatching Experience partners believe they will enchant you.
Madeira is a Portuguese volcanic island lying in the North Atantic, some 1,330 sea miles distant from Southampton and 535 from Lisbon. It lies between parallels of 32º 49’ 44’’ and 32º 37’ 18’’ north latitude, and between longitude of 16º 39’ 30’’ and 17º 16’ 38’’ west of Greenwich.
The structure of Madeira may be described as a ridge of mountains stretching roughly east and west for about 32 miles in length and 12,5 miles in breadth. Some of the central peaks reach a height of 18 hundred meters. It is difficult to realise that is such a small island there is such a wide biodiversity and a surprising magnificent scenery.
The island is cleft by many ravines that run down from the high mountains to the deep valleys that shelter some villages. The coastline consist mostly of rocky cliffs or small boulders beaches.
Madeira’s temperate to subtropical climate is largely due to the warm Gulf Stream which tends to keep the temperature relatively constant, with little variation between summer and winter. Temperature naturally varies with altitude but on the coastline temperatures are usually between 14º C in Winter and 25º C in Summer. Sea average temperature is 19ºC.
Since 1982 all endemic species of the archipelago and of the so-called Biographical Region of Macaronesia, formed by the Atlantic Islands Madeira, Azores, Canaries and Cape Verde are under the protection of law and that is why Madeira’s Natural Park was founded at the same year. About 60% of the islands surface belong to the Natural Park and are divided into different zones, each with specific conservation aims.
Madeira native forest can be considered a relic, a live fossil originated in the Tertiary that once covered the Mediterranean basin and now only exists on the Macaronesia Region. But it is in Madeira that this forest has the highest level of occupation, conservation and diversity of species. That is why in 1999 Madeira’s Laurel Forest was included in the UNESCO’s World Nature Heritage.
