Why Madeira Island
Madeira is a Portuguese island situated in the Atlantic Ocean. Serving as the largest and most populated landmass within the Madeira Archipelago, it encompasses an area of roughly 741 square kilometers, which includes small islets such as Ilhéu de Agostinho, Ilhéu de São Lourenço, and Ilhéu Mole. The island measures 57 kilometers in length from Ponta de São Lourenço to Ponta do Pargo, spans around 22 kilometers at its widest section between Ponta da Cruz and Ponta de São Jorge, and features 150 kilometers of coastline. As of 2021, its population stood at 245,595 residents.
Geologically, Madeira represents the upper portion of a massive underwater shield volcano rising approximately six kilometers from the ocean floor. Volcanic formation along an oceanic crust rift began over five million years ago in the Miocene epoch and continued into the Pleistocene epoch until roughly 700,000 years ago. Subsequent erosion carved out two large south-facing natural amphitheatres in the central region. Later volcanic activity generated scoria cones and lava flows over the eroded structure, with the most recent eruptions occurring on the west-central portion about 6,500 years ago.
A prominent mountain ridge runs through the middle of the island, reaching its highest elevation at Pico Ruivo, which stands at 1,862 meters above sea level. Other major high points along this central volcanic spine include peaks such as Torres, Arieiro, Cidrão, Cedro, Casado, Grande, and Ferreiro. Towards the east, the terrain drops significantly below 200 meters. Marine remnants, including a limestone layer in the Lameiros region of São Vicente that was historically used for producing calcium oxide, indicate that an island surrounded by reefs existed at the end of an early eruptive phase.
The topography of Madeira is characterized by dramatic sea cliffs, including Cabo Girão, alongside steep valleys and ravines that cut outward from the central mountain chain. Because these natural formations render much of the interior difficult to access, local life and settlements are primarily clustered in villages located at the mouth of these ravines. Heavy seasonal rains during the autumn and winter months typically flow through these natural channels toward the sea.
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