The archipelago of Madeira is part of the so called Macaronesian Islands - Azores, Madeira and Savages, Canaries, Cape Verde.

The Laurisilva (a Laurel forest type, relict of Mediterranean forests from the Tertiary Period) is to be found only in these archipelagos - except for Cape Verde which is now too dry - in places with very high relative humidity and low temperature's variation. It is characterized by dense, shady and misty woods [...] where the vegetation is dominated by big trees of the Lauraceae family.

Its natural essence is well presented by abrupt slopes, almost vertical, covered by an impenetrable and polystratified green mantle.

... the condensation clouds (or dense mists) occur especially from 700 to 1300 metres altitude [about 2300 to 4300 yards] and that's where the Laurisilva finds its optimum development environment.
[Translated from Portuguese, António Pena et José Cabral, Roteiros da Natureza - Madeira, Nature's Routes - Madeira].

The Laurisilva of Madeira is the only Portuguese Natural Site in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

In fact, it is in Madeira Island that the Laurisilva is nowadays kept under better conservation conditions and has more endemisms (species that are native only to this Island and to no place else in the World).

The forest canopy's predominant trees are the Madeira Laurel (Til), Ocotea foetens, and the Baytree (Loureiro), Laurus azorica. Among smaller tree species, there are the Madeira Mahogany (Vinhático), Persea indica, and the endemic Lily of the Valley Tree (Folhado), Clethra arborea.

[portuguese post on Feb 10th, 2008]

Category: MOUNTS AND VALLEYS

Dec. 2008: Images down to 20% of ORIGINAL SIZE (click to see). Comments closed.