It was in 1419 when the portuguese navigators Tristão Vaz Teixeira, Bartolomeu Perestrelo and João Gonçalves Zarco arrived on the uninhabited archipelago. On the route to Africa, a storm drifted their boat off the road and after many days they finally caught sight of land, namely of the smaller island Porto Santo ("sacred haven"). Afterwards, they started exploring the archipelago, that is a constellation of the Madeira island (the biggest of them), Porto Santo and the other two islands Selvagens (wild islands) and Desertas (deserted islands), the last two mentioned remain uninhabited nowadays. A paradise of forestry, they must have thought, for they baptized the territory as Madeira, the portuguese designation for "wood", since there was an abundance of this raw material. The island revealed a great strategic potential. Thereafter, the first portuguese citizens started settling down on the island. The first population was formed by relatives of the three navigators as well as some people from the nobility and even old prisoners. Banana trees and tunnels For the construction of buildings and agricultural purposes, a great part of the Laurissilva (the humid subtropical forest plentiful on the island, as well as in Açores, Canary islands and Cabo Verde- the archipelagos which constitute the region of Macaronesia) was burnt down by the colonists, solely on the northern part of the island this flora type (classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site) still can be found. Banana trees, sugar cane, passion fruit, sweet potatoes and many other products imported from exotic countries during the golden Age of Discovery were then cultivated on the immense territory of the island. It was then an important trade point for merchants. On such hilly lands, there was no other solution than building tunnels in order to facilitate the transport and travelling around, apparently. But it is very intriguing waiting for the end of the tunnel and be surprised with a new view. It is like those "click and view" toy cameras, such breathtaking scenarios! Calling all the nature lovers Its volcanic origin is a prominent characteristic, although the last eruptions occurred 6500 years ago. You will find many natural swimming pools formed by volcanic rocks, like Porto Moniz for example. (I will tell you further informations about Porto Moniz in another article.) Madeira is a pearl on the Atlantic Ocean. Located 560 km, 347 miles away from the shore of Morroco it is a popular stop of cruise trips and passionate hikers can explore the magical levada walks. These roads, called levadas, were built for the transportation of water during medieval era. The smell of fresh grass and saltwater hovers in the air. If I lived there, I would probably feel like I was on vacation for ever. Have you ever been on a cruise ride?
Which is your favorite island? Which island are you dreaming of visiting one day? Até logo! Lili :)
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I'd rather have a passport full of stamps than a house full of stuff. Forever a discoverer
The bad news is time flies. Go check out the amazing photography website of my friend Nicole, who is also a flight attendant!
Click here Fotomeitschi and see the world through her eyes ;-) Es sind die Begegnungen mit Menschen, die das Leben lebenswert machen.
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