Nashachata II- Drake Passage 2016/2017 -Atlantyk

Madeira (Madera) is an island of exotic fruits, endemic trees and flowers growing out from every piece of volcanic earth... and of course - delicious seafood!

Madeira is called the Island of Eternal Spring, Island of Flowers or Green Pearl of the Atlantic. Just those names are encouraging its visitors. Lush flora and majestic volcanic rocks have formed an unique landscape.

Madeira lies on the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 Nm from Lisbon and 350 Nm from Morocco. It was formed "only" a few million years ago, after the eruption of an underwater volcano. Madeira is in fact one of the world's highest volcanoes which was formed by a series of underwater eruptions. Erosion have shaped the island creating mountain ridges, ravines and high cliffs. There is no shelf around the island, ground drops sharply to a depth of 6 km below the sea level.

Madeira is called the Island of Eternal Spring because of constant sub-tropical temperatures. However, despite the propitious climate and fertile soil, a grow of flora is limited because of the mountainous terrain - every piece of land counts. At Cabo Girao famous Portuguese captain Joao Gonçalves Zarcohad had to turn around his ship in 1419. Along with companions Tristao Vaz Teixeira and Bartolomeu Perestrelo they are considered to be discoverers of the archipelago of Madeira (even if it already appears on the map of Plinius the Old, dated to the first century as the Purple Islands). Name of the biggest and the most densely wooded island comes from the Portuguese translation of the word "wood". The archipelago consists of a 4- thousandths habitants city of Porto Santo and the uninhabited Ilhas Desertas and Selvagens (Desert and Virgin Islands). Madeira initially served only as a base for expeditions to Africa, but over the time, Portuguese began to manufacture wood and sugar on it (until expansion of Brazilian plantations it was their main supplier of those goods).

The most commercial and populated part of the island is southern coast, where its capital - Funchal lies. On one hand washes by the ocean, on the other - safely surrounded by 1,000 m over the sea level mountains. The city is famous for its beautiful mansions and gardens, where the best hotels, restaurants and shops are situated. The specific climate is created by historic and ancient buildings, connected by cobbled, steep streets. Walking through the old town, near the monastery of Santa Clara, the fortress of Sao Lourenco builded in the sixteenth century or two historic forts Pico and Sao Tiago will be undoubtedly interesting for devotees of tourism. Because of that, Funchal is often called "The Little Lisbon".