Funchal, Madeira
For our second day in the island of Madeira we were given the opportunity to choose an option: to head for the hills and explore the mountainous interior or a more leisurely day at the botanical gardens and a wine tasting.
For those who headed for the hills the first stop was above the clouds close to the summit of the second highest peak on Madeira, at a little over 1,800 metres (about 6,000 feet). The views were spectacular, with both the north and south coasts visible and the clouds below our feet edging the sheer cliffs like waves against the shore (pictured).
These hills are the only place in the world where the Madeiran petrel breeds. Once feared extinct, the species was re-discovered here in 1969. Its near demise as a result of habitat degradation and the introduction of non-native species is a familiar story on so many islands. However, a small but increasing population of about 40 pairs remains, a tribute to the dedication of a few visionary individuals and a beacon of hope for all endangered species.
We were unable to see the petrel, but we did see the endemic Madeiran firecrest, a tiny warbler, in the laurasilva forest through which we walked alongside one of the many lavadas that network the island. Over 1,000 kilometres of these channels were constructed to take water from the wet uplands and north coast to irrigate the drier lowlands and provide drinking water to the towns, including Funchal, on the south coast. Their construction, without the use of sophisticated surveying equipment, is an impressive feat of engineering.
In the afternoon we cast off our lines from Funchal and headed south, bound for the Canary Islands tomorrow and the continuation of our exploration of these North Atlantic archipelagoes.
For our second day in the island of Madeira we were given the opportunity to choose an option: to head for the hills and explore the mountainous interior or a more leisurely day at the botanical gardens and a wine tasting.
For those who headed for the hills the first stop was above the clouds close to the summit of the second highest peak on Madeira, at a little over 1,800 metres (about 6,000 feet). The views were spectacular, with both the north and south coasts visible and the clouds below our feet edging the sheer cliffs like waves against the shore (pictured).
These hills are the only place in the world where the Madeiran petrel breeds. Once feared extinct, the species was re-discovered here in 1969. Its near demise as a result of habitat degradation and the introduction of non-native species is a familiar story on so many islands. However, a small but increasing population of about 40 pairs remains, a tribute to the dedication of a few visionary individuals and a beacon of hope for all endangered species.
We were unable to see the petrel, but we did see the endemic Madeiran firecrest, a tiny warbler, in the laurasilva forest through which we walked alongside one of the many lavadas that network the island. Over 1,000 kilometres of these channels were constructed to take water from the wet uplands and north coast to irrigate the drier lowlands and provide drinking water to the towns, including Funchal, on the south coast. Their construction, without the use of sophisticated surveying equipment, is an impressive feat of engineering.
In the afternoon we cast off our lines from Funchal and headed south, bound for the Canary Islands tomorrow and the continuation of our exploration of these North Atlantic archipelagoes.
