580 meters above the Atlantic Ocean, Cabo Girão is the second highest cape in the world. The marine abrasion has opened caves on it, has built the so called Fajãs (terraces) over the sea and provoked falling lands.

Though the hard morphology of this site, the agriculture man has somehow managed to exploit these steep lands, in such a way that one can consider it art. Here the violence of nature resources contrasts with the sensitivity of the human marks.

From this view point one can admire a vast landscape, from Câmara de Lobos to Garajau.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

From the top of Pico Castelo (Castle Peak), 437 meters above sea level, the extensive view of the landscape let us understand the morphology of Porto Santo Island: two distinct volcanic levations with a lower part, where the airport is situated, dividing them.

The volcanism in this island has started in the Tertiary and has last until the Quaternary period. Now, the volcanic activity in Porto Santo is completely extinct.

Pico Castelo belongs to the main volcanic system unit that occupy the Northeast and East of Porto Santo. Though this is the oldest volcanic set of Porto Santo, one can still observe here the highest altitudes and the deepest valleys of the island.

Photos by Catarina Fagundes

The North of Madeira Island has a peculiar landscape where spectacular precipices that fall on a vortex to the sea mixes with the green of the forest or with terraces cut by man on the mountain.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Varying with the typical, old, Madeira architecture houses, some new American style houses, distance from tradition, are signs of the economic prosperity of those who once migrated to far countries.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Lombada - Ponta do Sol, Madeira island

Madeira island climate allied to its irregular relief has influenced the agriculture to be diversified. This diversification has become one of the main characteristics of Madeira’s landscape. One can notice a stair formation depending on the altitude. This is, on a low floor tropical species like banana, sugar-cane, custard apple, papaya and passion fruit can be found. On an upper height Mediterranean products are planted, like fig or loquat trees, vineyards and some cereals, while deep in the valleys other fruit trees find their habitat (cherry, apple and plum trees). Though, while tropical cultures can only be found until 300 meters high, Mediterranean plants can be cultivated down to sea level.

Chão da Ribeira - Seixal, Madeira island
Photos by Catarina Fagundes

Porto Santo is a very dry island with some problems with water captation. The type of soil and springs make the irrigation system different than the one in Madeira. On lower altitudes water comes from the subsoil or open water tanks in the plantations it selves.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

There are only a few water springs with enough water for irrigation and it is brackish water, but there are some other springs, not so voluminous, with fresh water, which the best one, in terms of water temperature and sodium free, is the one in Fonte da Areia.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Around the island you can find some water reserves, where some birds stop for a rest.

Photo by Catarina Fagundes