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May 10, 2013

Laurissilva Forest

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One of the greatest tourist attractions of the Island of Madeira lies in its spectacular landscape. Its luxurious vegetation continues to fascinate all those closely drawn to nature.
This archipelago, included in the bio-geographic region of Macaronesia, retains a natural heritage of great scientific value, distinguished by
UNESCO as World Natural Heritage on December 2, 1999.
Madeira's indigenous Laurissilva forest, occupying an area of 15 thousand hectares, forms part of this vast layer of vegetation that covers the island. This ancient forest dates back to the Tertiary Era and includes very large trees such as the Til, (Ocotea foetens), the Laurel-Tree, (Laurus novo canariensis) and the Brazilian Mahogany, (Persea indica). Surrounding the trees are moss, bush, heather and ferns.
The Laurissilva forest occupies a coastal strip from 300 to 1300 meters above sea level, and plays a crucial role in soil preservation and the capture and filtration of rainfall on the island. Considered a living relic, almost all of it has been classified as part of the Madeira Nature Reserve, and is deemed a Total Preservation Area.

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