"Madeira - Sub-tropical landscapes " a Madeira Island Travel Page by sandysmith

Madeira is a small island - just 54 km long and 23 km wide - situated in the atlantic ocean some 600km from the Moroccan coastline. Its volcanic origins have shaped the islands peaks and valleys which predominate the interior of this lush semi-tropical island often referred to as a "floating garden".

What to see in Madeira
http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/tourmap.html

Its climate is warm all year round without reaching soaring heights in the summer but great for a winter holiday when its cold and wet in the rest of Europe. Its microclimate means that the peaks are often covered in cloud and mist but down at Funchal its very pleasant weather. This climate does wonders for the vegetation with exotic blooms and fruits of all kinds growing everywhere.

The network of water irrigation channels or levadas as they are known, make for some interesting hikes around its mountains taking in so much variety of flora and cascading waterfalls too - some you have to walk through!