Africa > Madeira Islands

Madeira (pron. IPA [mɐ`deiɾɐ] or [mɐ`dɐiɾɐ]) is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo being the only inhabited islands. It belongs politically and culturally to Europe, even if it can be considered to be a geographical part of the African Plate. Madeira, known originally to the Romans as the Purple Islands, was rediscovered, possibly accidentally, by Portuguese sailors and settled by Portugal as early as 1418 or as late as 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first discovery of the exploratory period initiated by Henry the Navigator of Portugal. It is a popular year-round resort, famed worldwide for its Madeira wine, a perfect climate, striking scenery, flowers, embroidery artisans, and New Year`s Eve celebrations with a spectacular fireworks show, recently considered the biggest fireworks show in the world, by the Guinness World Records.