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The group comprises the main island of Madeira, the smaller island of Porto Santo, the three uninhabited islets of Ilheu Chao,
Deserta Grande and Ilheu de Bugio, and the Selvagens (a group of uninhabited islets located south of Madeira). The islands
are hilly and of volcanic origin and the coast of Madeira is steep and rocky with deep eroded lava gorges running down to
the sea. These are particularly impressive on the north coast of Madeira island. The largest of a group of five islands formed
by volcanic eruption, Madeira is in fact the summit of a mountain range rising 6.5km (4 miles) from the sea bed. At Cabo Girão,
west of the capital of Funchal, is the second-highest cliff in the world. Inland, Pico Ruivo is the island’s highest point
(1862m/6109ft) with the slightly lower Pico de Arieiro (1810m/5940ft) nearby. Both are destinations for sightseeing tours,
commanding fine views of the surrounding mountains. Madeira’s volcanic origin means that it has no sandy beaches, although
there is a small beach, Prainha, near the whaling village of Canical on the extreme east of the island. Madeira itself is
58km (36 miles) long and 23km (14 miles) wide. Porto Santo is much smaller, only 14km (9 miles) long and 5km (3 miles) wide,
with a long, golden sandy beach, complementing Madeira.
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Overview 
