The island of Madeira lies in the Atlantic, about 600 km from the Moroccan coast. It is a part of Portugal, although it is closer to Africa. The island is of volcanic origin and together with the Canary Islands, Azores and Cape Verde island belong to the Macaronesian Region. Madeira is not a large island, from west to east measures just 57 km, from north to south just 22 km.
Madeira is interesting mainly for its varied mountainous terrain and the fact that life here is preserved from the times before the Tertiary period (20 to 2 million years ago).
Madeira boasts a beautiful and unique nature. On the coast there are lots of tourist resorts, coastal towns and dramatic cliffs. The rest of the island is covered by high mountains and deep valleys, with a wild rivers forming waterfalls and cascades. On the steep hills you can see the terraced fields with bananas trees or vine.
A real rarity is a laurel forest, which constitutes nearly 30% of growth of the island. Once this forest covered much of Europe and the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, but survived only on a few islands. In times of Ice Age these forests largely disappeared and preserved only on the islands and still cover the northern slopes of volcanic mountains of Madeira. About 90% of the forest on the island is considered as originating. Local laurel forest called laurisilva forest is located at 300 – 1300 meters above sea level. Constant Atlantic winds create a rain cloud and resemble a tropical cloud forest.
Laurisilva forest, Madeira, Portugal
Madeira was discovered in 1419 by the Portuguese seafarer Joao Gonçalves Zarco. Then some of forest was ruined for shipbuilding and burned to establish sugarcane plantations. Around 200 km2 of this rare forest remained and was even inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Today it is protected by 150 nature reserves and occupies about 16% of the island. Laurel forest has an important role in the water regime of the island. It also protects the humus layer, which filters and stores soil water that would otherwise be washed away into the sea. Already in ancient times, locals built a sophisticated system of canals here, which is responsible for delivering moisture from the north to the south parts of the island. These channels are called “levadas”. Today there are control pathways leading along those channels that serve also to visitors as a tourist trails. Following them you can embark on a fascinating exploration of the island and get deep into the forest. Laurels and mahogany which grow here are 500 years old and are overgrown with endemic mosses and lichens.
The laurel forest is a home to more than 150 species of plants, of which 66 are endemic and occur nowhere else than on the island of Madeira. Those include especially Madeira bilberry, Heather tree reaching up to 6 meters height, orchids and Goodyera repens.
Madeira Firecrest
Also, the local fauna is unique which include approximately 500 species, most of them are mollusks, spiders and insects, or birds. We can see here e.g. sparrow, finches, Cape Verde Swift and Petrels. These birds attract ornithologists and birdwatchers to Madeira. Forest became home to a nesting place for 20 to 30 pairs of critically endangered petrel Pterodroma mollis.
Laurel forest is accessible only on foot, but some places are restricted. The average temperature in January is 16 °C and in July 21 °C. You can use the service of some travel agencies that provide guided tours around the island. Madeira is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and if you still have some free time and some money in the pocket you should definitely visit this beautiful island!
