A Mountain Stream In Madeira’s Rugged Central Range Royalty-Free Stock Photo

As in many other volcanic islands, groundwater recharge through rain is the main source of water in Madeira. This groundwater flows in surgencies and mountain streams, down to the island’s coasts where of the population is concentrated. The laurisilva forest that still covers most of the island northern mountains, exposed to the humid trade winds, also plays a key role in Madeira’s water cycle, because it facilitates fog precipitation.