Madeira is Portugal's emerald island - wild, rough and verdant green, situated roughly 850 kms southwest of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Together with the much smaller and drier island of Porto Santo and the saw-toothed crescent of the Desertas islands, it forms a small archipelago that is a splendid destination for nature lovers and hikers. The misty laurel forests and sunny peaks are packed with a rare, unique flora and fauna, while whales, dolphins, sea turtles and a large numbers of seabirds patrol the surrounding ocean. Hikers, birdwatchers, botanists, whale watchers and other nature lovers - this is your naturalist guide to Madeira.The Crossbill Guide to Madeira describes 15 routes and numerous other sites to help you discover Madeira and Porto Santo. In addition, it describes excursions out onto the ocean, the Desertas islands and the remote Selvagens archipelago to explore Madeira's sea life. The book is complemented with extensive chapters on landscape, geology, history, descriptions of the flora and fauna and tips to observe wildlife.