Geography and Climate in Madeira Islands, Portugal
Madeira provides holidays for every taste: bustling Funchal with vibrant life, luxury hotels, nightclubs and casinos; the paradise island of Porto Santo with a nine-kilometer strip of sandy beaches, where Christopher Columbus went in search of peace. For outdoor enthusiasts – rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, tennis, golf, water skiing, windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving and sailing. But the island won the greatest popularity among fans of ecotourism and just lovers of walks in nature. There is a place here called Laurissilva. These are forests of the pre-glacial period, where there is no and never was a person. Special walking routes are laid there, and rope railings are stretched along the paths. There are also mountain routes, routes along lakes, national parks, irrigation canals – levadas.
According to DICTIONARYFORALL.COM, Madeira is a year-round resort. In summer there is no sweltering heat, in winter it is warm, and the water temperature does not drop below +17 o. The hottest month is August, for which the characteristic daytime temperature is +25 o, and the night temperature is +20 o.
The national language of Madeira is Portuguese. English is taught in schools and is widely used in everyday life.
Geography in Madeira Islands, Portugal
Madeira is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean located 1000 km from the Portuguese mainland. It consists of the inhabited islands of Madeira and Porto Santo and the uninhabited island groups of Desertas and Selvagens. The area of Madeira, the largest island, is 741 km 2. The second largest island is Porto Santo. The relief of the islands is mostly mountainous. The highest point of the archipelago is Mount Pico Areeiro (1862 m). Porto Santo has a more flat terrain. Sandy beaches stretch for 9 km along its coast. Madeira has several volcanic lakes, concentrated mainly on the western plateau. Some lakes are connected by waterfalls.
Climate in Madeira Islands, Portugal
Madeira belongs to the subtropical climate zone. Due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the air coming from Africa is humidified, and the climate on the island is milder than in the nearby Canary Islands. The average daily temperature in summer is + 21 – 23 o, at night – + 17 – 20 o. In winter, during the day, the thermometer rises to + 15 – 17 o, and by night it drops by 2 – 3 o. Most precipitation occurs in autumn and winter, with the rainiest month being November with an average monthly rainfall of 100mm. The driest months are July and August, when the amount of precipitation does not exceed 3 mm. Porto Santo has a drier climate due to the flatter terrain. In general, there are about 20 microclimates on the islands, so you need to be prepared for anything. If the sun is hot in Funchal, it can be quite cool and rainy in the mountains.
The water temperature on the islands is kept in the range from 17 to 22 o.
Best time to visit:
Madeira is a year-round resort. In summer there is no sweltering heat, in winter it is warm, and the water temperature does not drop below +17 o. The hottest month is August, for which the characteristic daytime temperature is +25 o, and the night temperature is +20 o.
