Madeira location
Where is the island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean?
The island of Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean, between Portugal (980 km from Lisbon) and about 600 km from the coast of Morocco. The Canary Islands are neighboring islands and are approximately 500 km away.
Location of the island Madeira
Madeira's placement in the world has contributed to its strategic importance as a maritime stopover,
Madeira is an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, located about 700 kilometers west of the Moroccan coast and approximately 400 kilometers north of the Canary Islands. This positioning makes it an autonomous region of Portugal, despite being geographically closer to Africa.
The relation of Madeira to the continents can be summarized as follows:
Europe: Madeira is politically a part of Portugal and, therefore, an outermost region of the European Union. Geographically, it is southwest of the European mainland, with the closest point being the Iberian Peninsula, roughly 1,000 kilometers to the northeast.
Africa: The African continent is Madeira's closest continental neighbour.
North America: Looking across the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is quite distant from North America. The closest point would be the eastern coast of the United States, lying approximately 5,000 kilometres to the west. Despite the distance, Madeira's location is significant for transatlantic travel and historical maritime routes between the two territories.
South America: Turning to the South American continent, Madeira is about 4,000 kilometres northeast of the northern coast of Brazil. Historically, the trade winds and ocean currents have facilitated the connection between Madeira and South America, particularly during the Age of Discovery when Portugal established sea routes to its colonies.
Travel times and distances from various European cities to Madeira (Funchal)
Travel times and distances from various European cities to Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, will depend on the mode of transportation, but typically air travel is the common means for reaching the island. Below, the flight times and distances are listed for flights from the capital cities mentioned to Funchal (Madeira Airport, also known as Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport):
London (LHR) to Funchal (FNC):
- Distance: Approximately 2,800 km (1,740 miles)
- Flight Time: Typically around 3 hours and 40 minutes
Frankfurt (FRA) to Funchal (FNC):
- Distance: Approximately 2,900 km (1,800 miles)
- Flight Time: Usually about 4 hours
Rome (FCO) to Funchal (FNC):
- Distance: Roughly 2,700 km (1,678 miles)
- Flight Time: Around 4 hours and 10 minutes
Paris (CDG) to Funchal (FNC):
- Distance: About 2,580 km (1,603 miles)
- Flight Time: Usually just under 4 hours
Madrid (MAD) to Funchal (FNC):
- Distance: Approximately 1,300 km (808 miles)
- Flight Time: Normally around 2 hours and 30 minutes
What is the origin of the island of Madeira?
The island of Madeira is of volcanic origin. The island was formed 60 million years ago. The volcanoes are now extinct
What are the characteristics of the island of Madeira?
The island is very mountainous, with deep valleys and high peaks inland, as well as spectacular cliffs along the coastline, which is around 160 km long in total.
What are the four islands that make up the Madeira archipelago?
The island of Porto Santo , Ilhas Desertas , Ilhas Selvagens and the island of Madeira together form the archipelago of Madeira
Where does the name of the island of Madeira come from?
During the conquest process along the North African coast, the Portuguese discovered an uninhabited island with very intense vegetation consisting of forests. That's why this island was called Madeira. Madeira means - wood in Portuguese. These ancient forests in Madeira were soon largely burned down by the Portuguese for agricultural purposes and the wood was used. One part is still there today and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the laurel forest. or the Laurisilva.
What is the capital of Madeira Island?
The capital is called Funchal and has around 100,000 inhabitants. It is located in the south of the island
How big is Madeira?
Madeira is 58 km long and 23 km wide. About a quarter of the surface is above 1,000 m altitude. Flat areas are rare, with the exception of the Paul da Serra plateau
What landscapes can be found in Madeira?
The island is very diverse. Fan finds mountains up to 1,800 meters, especially in the interior, and steep cliffs along the coast, especially in the north of the island. A plateau in the central part of the island. Countless rugged bays along the entire coast with gravel, volcanic boulders or black sand.
What is the climate on Madeira?
Madeira has a very mild climate.
The mild climate and the low temperature fluctuations between summer and winter or between day and night are one of the decisive advantages of the climate on the island of Madeira. Temperatures average 26 C in summer and 18 C in winter.