Ponta do Sol, Madeira

Ponta do Sol (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpõtɐ ðu ˈsɔl] (listen); English: "Cape of the Sun") is a municipality in the southwestern coast of the island of Madeira, in the archipelago of Madeira. The population in 2011 was 8,862,[1] in an area of 46.19 km2 (17.83 sq mi).[2]

For Ponta do Sol in Cape Verde, see Ponta do Sol, Cape Verde.
Ponta do Sol
Municipality
The seafront of Ponta do Sol
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in Madeira
Coordinates: 32°40′50″N 17°6′15″W
Country Portugal
Auton. regionMadeira
IslandMadeira
EstablishedSettlement: c. 1420
Municipality: 2 December 1501
Parishes3
Government
 • PresidentCelia Marques Luís
Area
 • Total46.19 km2 (17.83 sq mi)
Elevation
34 m (112 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total8,862
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC±00:00 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Postal code
9360-219
Area code291
Websitepontadosol.pt

History

The settlement of Ponta do Sol began shortly after the discovery of the island of Madeira, around 1420.

Geography
The rugged coastline near the parish of Ponta do Sol
Cascata dos Anjos Waterfall on old road in Anjos, Ponta do Sol

Ponta do Sol is located between Ribeira-Brava and Calheta, on the southwest coast of Madeira, linked to Funchal (the capital) and surrounding communities by the main regional road.

The municipality is crossed by a few pedestrian hiking trails, that usually follow the levadas (English: aqueducts) carrying water from the mountains.

Human geography

Administratively, the municipal government is located in the civil parish (freguesia) of Ponta do Sol, while local government is handled through the three civil parishes:

  • Canhas
  • Madalena do Mar
  • Ponta do Sol - in 2011, the parish had a population of 4,577 inhabitants, in an area of 27.45 km2 (10.60 sq mi)

Economy

Historically, the main sources of income in this region has been agriculture, fishing and trade. Ponta do Sol's main harbour, although small, was a crucial commercial gateway to the western part of the island. These importation and exportation businesses fostered the creation of new activities in what became the central part of the community and created a flow of goods into the hinterland (such as local and imported goods).

Today, commercial activity is scattered throughout the municipality, while the port area of Ponta do Sol has declined in importance. In its place, the economy of the municipality has been dispersed to other parishes, particularly Canhas, which were essentially agricultural parishes, but have developed into important economic nodes, while still retaining its rural landscape. While agriculture remains the primary activity in the interior, and the fisheries industry has declined significantly, construction and industrial enterprises have conquered a prominent role in the municipality. The service industry, particularly tourism, has carved-out a portion of the income stream, with high-quality hotels or residential inns located in the countryside and urban centres.

References
  1. Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. Eurostat
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