Madeira Island
Madeira is the largest island of the Madeira archipelago, a volcanic landmass in the North Atlantic and an autonomous region of Portugal.
Madeira Archipelago: A Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic comprising Madeira, Porto Santo, the Desertas, and the Selvagens. Madeira Island is the archipelago’s largest and most populous island.
Madeira hotspot: A volcanic hotspot beneath the eastern North Atlantic associated with the formation of the Madeira archipelago. Hotspot volcanism built the island from submarine eruptions.
Tourism in Madeira: The travel industry centered on Madeira’s landscapes, climate, heritage, and outdoor activities. Tourism is a major part of the island’s modern economy.
Câmara de Lobos: A coastal municipality and fishing town west of Funchal on Madeira. Its harbor and fishing traditions illustrate settlement on the southern coast.
Porto Santo: An inhabited island in the Madeira archipelago, northeast of Madeira Island. Its drier landscape and sandy beach contrast with Madeira’s steep, lush terrain.
Madeira (autonomous region): An autonomous region of Portugal made up of the Madeira archipelago and Porto Santo. The island forms the region’s political and demographic center.
Portuguese discovery of Madeira: The Portuguese arrival at the Madeira archipelago in the early fifteenth century, followed by settlement. It initiated the island’s recorded history under Portuguese rule.
Levada: An irrigation channel in Madeira, often accompanied by a maintenance path through the island’s terrain. Levadas carry water from wetter uplands to farms and settlements.
Santana, Madeira: A municipality on Madeira’s northern coast, known for traditional thatched houses. Its architecture and setting contrast with the island’s southern urban centers.
Desertas Islands: A small, uninhabited group of islands southeast of Madeira, protected as a nature reserve. Their lack of permanent settlement contrasts with Madeira’s dense population.