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On the south there is very little left of the indigenous '' Laurisilva '' forest which once clothed the whole island (until the original settlers decided to clear the land for farming by setting most of the island on fire) and gave it the name it bears (''Madeira'' means "wood" in Portuguese ), but on the north some of the valleys still contain native trees of fine growth. These ''laurisilva'' forests, notably the forests on the northern slopes of Madeira Island, are designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . A long narrow and comparatively low rocky promontory forms the eastern extremity of the island, and here there is to be seen a tract of calcareous sand, known as the Fossil Bed, containg land shells and numerous bodies resembling the roots of trees, probably produced by infiltration. Its geographical position and mountainous landscape permit a very pleasing climate. Temperatures are about 22 degrees Celsius in the summer and circa 16 degrees Celsius during the winter. With its mild humidity, the weather of the Island is classified has subtropical. Influenced by the Gulf Stream , sea water temperature is 22 degrees Celsius during the summer and 16 in the winter. The islands are of Volcanic origin. EXTERNAL LINKS
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