madeira holidays, fruits and poncha
The Madeira Island is the main island (740.7 km ²) of the archipelago of Madeira, in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of the Portuguese coast, and together with Porto Santo Island (42,48 km²), Desert Island (non-habitable) and Selvagens Island (non-habitable).
The capital of the island and the autonomous region is the city of Funchal.
The island is of volcanic origin, its climate is subtropical with extensive exotic flora economically is largely devoted to tourism.
Location and Climate
Madeira island is 310 miles from the African coast and 620 miles from the European continent, which is the equivalent of a 1 hour 30 minutes flight from Lisbon. The Archipelago, discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens and Desertas. It is situated between latitude 32º22’20″ and 33º7’50″ with its longitude between 16º16’30W and 17º16’38″W. Has a surface area of 459 square miles (741 km2), (35 miles long and 13 miles wide).
These, because of their privileged geographical position and mountainous relief, have a surprisingly mild climate.
Very mild average temperatures, 25ºC in the summer and 17ºC in the winter, and a moderate level of humidity, confer upon these islands exceptional subtropical features.
The seawater temperature is also very mild, because of the influence of the warm Gulf current, presenting averages of 22ºC in the summer and 18º in the winter.