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Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between 32°22.3′N, 16°16.5′W and 33°7.8′N, 17°16.65′W. It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island
being the only inhabited islands. Although it is part of the African
Plate, some 650 km (400 mi) off coast Africa, it belongs politically
and culturally to Europe, some 860 km (535 mi) from the mainland.
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Pre-Portuguese times
Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands, the position of which with
reference to the Fortunate Islands or Canaries might seem to indicate
Madeira islands. Plutarch (Sertorius, 75 AD) referring to the military commander Quintus Sertorius (d. 72 BC), relates that after his return to Cadiz,
"he met seamen recently arrived from Atlantic islands, two in number,
divided from one another only by a narrow channel and distant from the
coast of Africa 10,000 furlongs.
They are called Isles of the Blest." The estimated distance from
Africa, and the closeness of the two islands, seem to indicate Madeira
and Porto Santo.
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The Autonomous Region of Madeira is composed of Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, Desertas Islands and Savage Islands.
Funchal, the capital of Madeira Island, is on the south coast of the principal island, in 32°37.75′N, 16°55.3′W.
Other main cities are: Porto Santo Town (also known as Vila Baleira),
Ribeira Brava, Machico, Câmara de Lobos, Santa Cruz and Santana.
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The setting-up of the Free Industrial Zone has led to the installation, under more favourable conditions, of
infrastructure, production shops and essential services for small and
medium-sized industrial enterprises.
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