Is Funchal a volcanic island?

Is Funchal a volcanic island? Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, is seen here along the southeast flanks of the massive shield volcano forming the island.

Can tourists drink the water in Madeira?

There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality. Porto Santo uses desalinated water, which is perfectly safe to drink.

When was the last time Madeira erupted?

The most recent volcanic eruptions were on the west-central part of the island only 6,500 years ago, creating more cinder cones and lava flows.

Is Madeira at risk of tsunami?

In the area you have selected (Ilha Da Madeira (madeira)) tsunami hazard is classified as low according to the information that is currently available.

How deep is the ocean around Madeira?

The sea between the islands of Madeira Archipelago has a depth of around 4000 meters, already at a distance of 5 km from the coast of the sea reaches a depth of 3000 m The archipelago is bathed by the Gulf Stream and therefore the temperature of the water around the island of Madeira does not drop below 18 ° C, which ...

What is so special about Madeira?

Madeira is renowned for its landscapes, lore—and its legendary wine, which graced the tables of America's Founding Fathers.

Is Madeira on a fault line?

Locally with an expressive geomorphological degraded scarp, is running parallel to the elongation of the island, and has the maximum extension of 56 km. It corresponds to a major dextral fault with a northern collapse, confirmed by several field observations.

What are the hazards in Madeira?

Natural Disasters The rainy season is from October through March. Floods may occur, especially on Madeira Island. Forest fires occur during the dry season.

Is Madeira still an active volcano?

Madeira is part of massive underwater shield volcano in the Atlantic Ocean, of which the island is just the highest point. Formed hundreds of thousands of years ago, the island has seen volcanic activity as recently as 6,500 years ago, but today is considered to be dormant and unlikely to erupt.

Is Madeira technically Africa?

How about Madeira? Geographically (and weatherwise) it's closer to Africa than Europe… just 500km west of Casablanca in fact, though it's technically Portugal and about a three-hour flight from London. Funchal is the island's only real city.

Are there big waves in Madeira?

The island's rugged topography is fundamental for the constant formation of perfect, clean and big waves that have made Madeira's surf spots famous on the international surf circuit.

Has a tsunami ever hit Madeira?

On March 4th, 1930, a sector of the Cape Girão cliff, located in the southern shore of Madeira Island, collapsed into the sea and generated an 8 m tsunami wave height.

Does Madeira have natural disasters?

Briefly, we can say that on Madeira Island, the most frequent hazards have essentially been flash floods in the autumn and winter and forest fires in the summer.

Can you swim in Madeira Island?

The island of Madeira is one of the best destinations in Portugal and the world for open water swimmers passionate for spectacular landscapes. The temperature, visibility and transparency of the water, as well as the immensity and variety of marine life, make this a unique place for swimming.

What language is spoken in Madeira?

The official language spoken in the Madeira archipelago is Portuguese, but a majority of the local population is proficient in English, especially in the more tourist-heavy spots.

Why did people leave Madeira?

Many emigrated illegally to escape military service and avoid the wars in the colonies (Angola and Mozambique), and also because they could not afford the high cost of the emigration process by legal means.

Is Madeira considered tropical?

Madeira has a tropical climate and is consistently in the high 20s and early 30s, making it a popular destination year-round. However, the main island is home to several microclimates that are due to its orography.

Why is Madeira so cheap?

The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.

How many shark attacks in Madeira?

Shark attacks According to Shark Attack Data, there have been two fatal attacks off the coast of Funchal, Madeira, but nothing recorded in Portugal. Both of the attacks were more than 40 years ago, back in 1979 and 1956, during fishing trips.