Madeira Island Magazine - November / December 2020

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from Madeira, is administered by the
Portuguese municipality of Funchal.
They are designated a Nature
Reserve, comprised of two areas:
Selvagem Grande Island and Selvagem
Pequena Island. The total land area
of the Savage Islands is 2.73 km2
(1.05 sq mi), with little fresh water and
surrounded by dangerous reefs (which
makes limited access difficult).
The northeast Group - includes
the main island of Selvagem Grande
flora and many avian species that
breed annually on its rock cliffs or
use them on their stopover on normal
migratory patterns. Jacques-Yves
Cousteau once said what he believed
that around this minor archipelago
were “the cleanest waters in the
world”.
Although there are commercial
tours of the islands and their biomes
are available, all visitors require
special authorization from the
Today the Selvagens
Islands have a
permanent team of
wardens from Madeira
Natural Park.
elvagens Islands, (Savage
S Islands) is a small
uninhabitable archipelago
in the North Atlantic, roughly midway
between Madeira and the Canary
Islands. The archipelago comprises
two major islands and several islets
of varying sizes, that represent the
southernmost region of Portugal. The
archipelago lies about 230 km (143 mi)
and three small islets: Sinho Islet
(Portuguese: Ilhéu Sinho), Palheiro do
Mar, and Palheiro da Terra.
The southwest Group - including
the main island of Selvagem Pequena
and Fora Islet (Portuguese: Ilhéu de
Fora), it is surrounded by a group
of very small islets and a group
collectively known as the Northern
Islets (Portuguese: Ilhéus do Norte):
Alto, Comprido and Redondo.
The islands physical
characteristics are consequence
of mountain-forming and volcanic
forces that occurred between 60 and
70 million years ago. The average
annual temperatures range between
17–19 ºC, generally exceeding those
in Madeira (defined as a subtropical
maritime climate), while sea
temperatures remain comfortable all
year round.
The scientific and natural interest
of this tiny group of islands lies in
its marine biodiversity, its unique
Madeira Natural Park, the regional
environmental authority.
The Natural Reserve of Selvagens
Islands was created as part of the
Madeira Natural Park; it is one of the
oldest nature reserves of Portugal
and it also includes the surrounding
shelf to a depth of 200 m. In 1976,
permanent surveillance began, and in
1978 the reserve was elevated to the
status of Nature Reserve.
Madeira Island Magazine | November - December 2020
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