Exploring the Pearl of the Atlantic Apr 21, 2021

Exploring the Pearl of the Atlantic

We"re taking in a view of the island of Madeira, by far the largest island in the Madeira archipelago, which sits 320 miles off the coast of Morocco in the North Atlantic. Known as the "Pearl of the Atlantic," Madeira is part of an autonomous region of Portugal. It boasts a diverse forest ecosystem, endemic flora and fauna, and the largest living stand of laurel trees in the world. It"s a great place to hike, too. Trails run alongside irrigation channels, called levadas, that move water all over the island. Walks range from easy strolls in the countryside to precarious hikes along mountain ridges or into remote parts of the forests. Afterward, the calorie-depleted can dig into a local delicacy like peixe espada com banana (fried local fish with banana) and sip on Madeira wine. Saúde!

© Hemis/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Apr 21, 2018Celebrating National Park Week, April 21-29
Apr 21, 2019The Easter Bunny’s story
Apr 21, 2020Where do those colors come from?
Apr 21, 2022First day of summer
Apr 21, 2023Procida, Italy
Apr 21, 2024National Park Week continues
Apr 21, 2025International Dark Sky Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 15, 2021Happy Astronomy Day!
Aug 10, 2020Kings of the Kalahari
May 18, 2025International Museum Day
Apr 26, 2020Red skies at Ruby Beach
Aug 27, 2025World Lake Day in the Faroe Islands
Jun 22, 2025World Rainforest Day
Sep 23, 2024Sea Otter Awareness Week
Feb 21, 2022Presidents Day
May 19, 2020Loud waters
Sep 20, 2021Birds of a feather flocking together
Jul 30, 2022Milford Sound/Piopiotahi rainforest in New Zealand
Mar 21, 2022World Poetry Day
Dec 30, 2022White Desert National Park, Egypt
May 9, 2020Here’s looking at you, teachers
Feb 1, 2019‘Stepping’ into Black History Month
Mar 12, 2019The otherworldly red river
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Dec 24, 2018The birthplace of a classic Christmas carol
Oct 19, 2022Wartburg Castle overlooking Thuringian Forest in Germany
Dec 18, 2025Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park
Mar 28, 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
Feb 19, 2021Colorful cows of the reef
Dec 23, 2020Swimming into the season
Jul 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park
Nov 12, 2018Honoring those who served
Oct 25, 2019The lemurs of Madagascar
Aug 22, 2022Burrowing owls
Oct 4, 2019World Space Week begins
Aug 2, 2019An uncommon look at an American icon
Jun 18, 2018Here, fishy!