Source: Mapquest Madeira Island is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, arround latitude 32º45' and longitude 16º55'. Has a surface area of 736Km2 (459 square miles), 56Km (35miles) long by 21Km (13miles) wide.
Madeira is the main island of Madeira Archipelago, along with Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Desertas and Selvagens, which together, since 1976, are one of the autonomous regions of Portugal.
This islands were discovered by the portuguese captains João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira in the 15th century, more precisely in the years of 1418 and 1419.
Madeira Island is well known for having good weather all year round, with it's privileged geographical position and mountainous relief make it a surprisingly mild climate, with very mild average temperatures (22ºC in the summer and 16ºC in the winter) and a moderate level of humidity, resulting in exceptional subtropical features.
The seawater temperature is also very mild due to the influence of the warm Gulf current, resulting in averages of 22ºC in the summer and 18º in the winter.
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