Madeira
Madeira, officially the Autonomous Region of Madeira, is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal, the other being the Azores. It is an archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Macaronesia, just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north of the Canary Islands and 520 kilometres (320 mi) west of the Kingdom of Morocco. Madeira is geologically located on the African Tectonic Plate, although it is culturally, politically and ethnically associated with Europe, with its population predominantly descended from the original Portuguese settlers. Its population was 251,060 in 2021. The capital of Madeira is Funchal, which is located on the main island's south coast.
Some of the key events about Madeira
- 1419The archipelago was officially discovered and claimed for Portugal
- 1425The first settlers arrived on the island, beginning its colonization
- 1452The first sugar cane was introduced to Madeira, starting a lucrative industry
- 1478The first printing press in Portugal was established in Funchal
- 1508Funchal was elevated to city status
- 1803A devastating flood killed over 1,000 people in Funchal
- 1807The Madeira wine industry received a significant boost due to the Napoleonic Wars
- 1815A severe famine struck the island, causing widespread suffering
- 1891The Madeira Island Natural Park was established, protecting unique flora and fauna
- 1921A major landslide in Funchal resulted in numerous casualties and significant damage
- 1964Madeira Airport was opened, significantly improving accessibility to the island
- 1974The Carnation Revolution in Portugal led to political instability on the island
- 1976Madeira gained political autonomy as an autonomous region of Portugal
- 1993Severe flooding and landslides caused extensive damage and loss of life
- 1999The Laurisilva of Madeira was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 2010Catastrophic flooding and mudslides killed at least 42 people and caused widespread destruction
- 2012Severe forest fires destroyed large areas of the island's natural habitat
- 2016Major wildfires ravaged the island, forcing mass evacuations and causing extensive damage
- 2019A tourist bus crash killed 29 German tourists near Caniço
- 2020The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Madeira's tourism-dependent economy
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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