Ilha

History

The history of this parish extends from the end of the 20th century, when it was created in 1989 by de-annexation from the civil parish of São Jorge. Its name was an extension of geomorphological characteristics, since it was an "island" between many of its other neighbours (ilha is the Portuguese word for island), one of the few landlocked parishes on the island of Madeira.

Geography

Ilha is located along the northern coast, buttressed by the neighbouring civil parishes of Arco de São Jorge (in the west) and São Jorge (to the east). It contains the localities Achadinha, Corrida, Ermida, Garnal, Lombada do Meio and Lombo Grande. The site of Achada do Marques is classified as a protected landscape () and part of the Parque Natural da Madeira. The classification was made to not only preserve the natural environment and landscape, but also to maintain the habits and traditions of the zone.), its summit can be reached from within the trail network. Other pedestrian trails of note: Levada da Ilha-Vale da Lapa-Caldeirão Verde and Pico Ruivo-Encumeada.

Most-observed species

• Madeira Chaffinch

  Fringilla maderensis Sharpe, 1888 · Aves
  4,010
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,035
• Eurasian Kestrel

  Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  2,766
• Madeira Wall Lizard

  Teira dugesii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) · Squamata
  2,449
• Eurasian Blackcap

  Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,350
• Yellow-legged Gull

  Larus michahellis J.F.Naumann, 1840 · Aves
  2,334
• Island Canary

  Serinus canaria (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,320
• Madeira Firecrest

  Regulus madeirensis Harcourt, 1851 · Aves
  2,174