Natural Lava Arches, Porto Moniz, Madeira
Posted by: 
arby101ca
N 32° 52.057 W 017° 10.067
28S E 297172 N 3638694
Along the steep eroded shore of the volcanic island of Madeira there are numerous natural arches. At Porto Moniz on the far south west shore are a pair of arches among the eroded lava features.
Waymark Code: WMA330
Location: Arquipélago da Madeira, Portugal
Date Posted: 11/08/2010
Views: 34
The pair of natural arches at Porto Moniz are great to view as you can descend to cave to see both arches interacting with the waves. But photographs do not capture the dramatic scenes of the black lava and the churning sea blue sea with white froth.
The GPS position is the top of the stairs leading to the cave, the best viewing place.
A historical footnote. Porto Moniz is named for Christopher Columbus’s father-in-law. Columbus lived in Madeira and the nearby island of Porto Santo while running trading ships back to Portugal. He married the daughter of the governor of Porto Santo, Senor Moniz. After she died in childbirth, Columbus set his sights on crossing the Atlantic to the new world as it seemed to be just over the horizon from Madeira.
Photo of the Arch by itself?: yes
Type of Arch: Coastline
Type of Material:
Black lava
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Visit Instructions:
You must post a picture of you with a GPSr or Geocaching/Waymarking attire/equipment and the subject arch in the background.