Porto Santo Island is a Portuguese island 50 km northeast of Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. The main urban area in which is one of the six Portuguese vilas/municipalities that have only one parish is the city of Porto Santo, also known as Vila Baleira, the only parish. The population in 2001 was 4,474. The density is 106.1/km². The island also has a wonderful airport which serves flights including to Funchal which is only 15 min. It is the northernmost and the easternmost of the Madeira Islands. The municipality has no boundaries which means it is encircled by the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest place is Machico in the island of Madeira to the southwest in which it serves its port to Funchal. The length of the island is about 9 km. The main industry are tourism. The island was discovered by João Gonçalves Zarco in 1419 along with Tristão Vaz Teixeira. The Porto Santo Golf Course, proposed by Spanish golfing champion Severiano Ballesteros, will be the largest course in the whole of the Madeira Archipelago and will be able to cater for 500 persons playing golf at once. There will be two 18-hole golf courses and one of nine-hole course. Elevation has several related meanings: Geography The elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or possibly some other fixed point). ... Latitude, denoted by the Greek letter φ, gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the Equator. ... Map of Earth showing curved lines of longitude Longitude, sometimes denoted λ, describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. ... For other uses of the word, see Madeira (disambiguation) Madeira Islands location. ... Mountains can be characterized in several ways. ... View of Mount Rainier, a stratovolcano. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... In climbing, a first ascent (FA) is the first climb to reach the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. ... If you were looking for the car, please see Mercury Mountaineer. ... For other uses of the word, see Madeira (disambiguation) Madeira Islands location. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Machico is a town located in the northeastern part of the Madeira Islands. ... For other uses of the word, see Madeira (disambiguation) Madeira Islands location. ... João Gonçalves Zarco (c. ... Events January 19 - Hundred Years War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England which brings Normandy under the control of England. ... Tristão Vaz Teixeira (about 1395 to 1480) was a Portuguese navigator and explorer that, together with João Gonçalves Zarco and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, discovered the Madeira Islands (1419-1420). ...

The first phase , that was concluded on September 2004, involved the building of an 18 hole 72 par golf course, for professional players and a nine hole 3 par circuit called 'Pitch and Put', which can be covered within one hour.

The second phase, which will only take off in 2005, will include an 18-hole golf course similar to that of the first phase.

Porto Santo golf complex which also includes eight tennis courts, circles Pico Ana Ferreira, connecting the tennis courts to the Horse-riding Centre already built here, and this in turn, to the golf courses. In the future, the complex may be expanded to include other sports , making it the largest sports complex in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This new infrastructure will extend the tourist season of Porto Santo and it will be another attraction for visitors and residents.

PORTO SANTO ISLAND

A stable climate, tempting warm waters, nine kilometres of golden therapeutic sands. An untouched delight, a romantic sunset.

A mere 40 km away from the island of Madeira, two and a half hours by boat or, if preferred, just 15 minutes by plane, lies one of the most beautiful and idyllic islands in the world: Porto Santo!

If you believe this to be fanciful exaggeration, then why not come and see for yourself!

The soft and golden sand, renowned for its therapeutic properties, bathed by a warm and crystal clear sea, a dry and stable climate all year round, are but some of its attributes.

It is possible to indulge in every type of outdoor sporting activity on the island of Porto Santo. Apart from water sports such as diving, windsurfing or sailing, you can also enjoy the perfect natural environment as you paraglide from the cliff tops, walk along recently restored primitive footpaths or cycle across the south coast of the island.

Just as Christopher Columbus did whilst living on the island, you also will find in Porto Santo your refuge, the place where everything happens at a slow pace, enabling you to thoroughly enjoy the holiday of a lifetime!

Here you will discover the other side of life: Tranquillity!

Porto Santo has several schools, a lyceum, a gymnasia, several churches, a square (praça), a Congress Centre, a museum, shopping centres, bars, restaurants and much more.

Geography

The island of Porto Santo as seen from the air

The island's geography includes farmlands in the southern and central part and further south a long shoreline with a few beaches, forests and grasslands to the west, rocky ledges and cliffs with a longer coastline to its north, forests to the northeast, drylands with grasses to the northern part and mountains along the northeastern part with about five to six main mountaintops with a few grasslands. Much of the coastline is to the west, the north and the east. There are islets to the north east and a small peninsula with a mountaintop to the eastern part. An aerial view of Porto Santo in Madeira archipelago Photograph taken by Henryk Kotowski and released under the GFDL licence File links The following pages link to this file: Porto Santo Island ... An aerial view of Porto Santo in Madeira archipelago Photograph taken by Henryk Kotowski and released under the GFDL licence File links The following pages link to this file: Porto Santo Island ...

• Location for Vila Baleira:
  • Latitude: 33.0667 (33°4') N
  • Longitude: 16.33 (16°20') W
• Altitude:
  • Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
  • Centre: 175 m (577 m)

Settlements and geographic areas

External links

• Map and aerial photos (Porto Santo)
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.0611&longitude=-16.256&zoom=6) or Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?||=33.0611,-16.356)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.356&lat=-33.0611&w=750&h=500)
• Map and aerial photos (Vila Baleira)
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=-16.33decimal&latitude=-33.0667&longitude=-16.33&zoom=6) or Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?||=33.0667,-16.33)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.33&lat=33.0667&w=750&h=500)