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Geology

Madeira is on the African plate and was created by a hot spot. The island itself is only the top quarter of a volcanic system. The cliffs drop below the water surface up to 4,000 m to the seabed.

Since Madeira was formed in several volcanic phases, the first began about 18 million years ago, the last ended only about 6,450 years ago, the exact location of each crater is no longer discernible. Remains can be seen in many places in the interior of the island. Impressive are the former sluices of the volcanoes, which unlike the surrounding rock have not yet been eroded by the erosion. In some places in the high mountains you can also see striking mountain tops or rocky cliffs.

The lava cave Grutas de São Vicente was created during this last phase of volcanic activity. A tubular cavity remained as the effluent lava cooled and solidified on the surface. Below the surface, the lava flowed through this tube at a high temperature and high flow rate.

The rivers of the island usually have a very steep gradient. Numerous waterfalls lead directly to the sea.

Click on the pictures for an enlarged view.

The Pico Ruivo is with 1862 m the highest peak of Madeira and at the same time one of the highest peaks of Portugal. The coast of Madeira is steep and rocky. Cabo Girão, the "Cape of Inversion", is the highest cliff in Europe with a height of 580m. Fajã was the name of the hard-to-reach fertile headlands, which served as arable land as well as the small fertile high plateaus, the Achadas.

Did you know?

Christus-Statue in
Garajau - „Cristo Rei“


A hike to the Christo Rei statue is worthwhile. The statue of Christo Rei Ponta do Garajau stands on a cliff between Caniço and Funchal. From Caniço de Baixo it is a wonderful trip there. This imposing statue, from which sailors wish for a safe trip home, was built in 1927 by the Frenchman Serraz and has a smaller "sister" in Lisbon. From the plateau, a cable car leads down to the beach for each guest. There is a restaurant where you can sit right by the sea and enjoy fresh fish.

Close to this statue is the steep cliff. From here, the deceased, who did not have the Catholic faith, were thrown into the sea. They were not allowed to bury them in Madeiran soil. This affected above all the Englishmen. This did not change until 1765, when the English cemetery was created.