DF7EE will be active as CQ3W from Madeira Island, IOTA AF - 014, in CQ WW WPX SSB Contest, 29 - 30 March 2025.
He will operate in Single Operator All Band Category.
Recent DX Spots CQ3W
CQ3W Log search Before and after Contest he will be active as CT9/DF7EE.
QSL for CQ3W via ClubLog OQRS only.
Madeira Island - Europe on the African side
Madeira Island is the largest and best known of all the islands in the archipelago of the same name, comprising three inhabited and several uninhabited island territories. Its volcanic nature has caused it to rise several hundred meters above the surrounding waters of the Atlantic, and its highest point, Mount Picu Ruivo, is elevated at 1862 meters. In fact, Madeira is the top of a volcanic ridge protruding from the ocean, some 680 kilometers from the Moroccan coast. Historically, however, the relatively small distance from Africa did not prevent the Portuguese from taking control of this territory, so even now, despite the distance of almost 1000 km to Portugal, Madeira is its autonomous property, hence part of the EU.
CQ3W. Madeira Island. QSL.
Roots of European character
The official date of discovery of Madeira by the Portuguese is considered to be 1419, and the island was actively settled just a year later. In 1433 the island appeared on the nautical charts, which further encouraged the interest of nobles and merchants. From the middle of the XV to XVII century there grew a lot of sugar cane, which served as a source of a rare for Europeans seasoning - “sweet salt”, i.e. sugar. To make the sugar business successful, they decided to import slaves, whose number by the XVI century increased to 10% of the total number of inhabitants of the island. Having survived the Algerian Berber invasion in 1617, and from 1807 to 1814 a short occupation by the British, Madeira was again taken over by the Ports of Madeira. Madeira passed back to the Portuguese and gradually began to gain resort fame. Back in the early 19th century, resorts were rare, so the island, along with the French Riviera, was a favorite vacation spot for the European elite, including kings, politicians and writers.
Madera and Madeira
In the XVIII century the competition in the sugar market grew and it was then that a new and promising agrarian industry - winemaking - began to emerge. The well known in the Slavic world wine madera comes from just these places. It is a rather strong drink containing 18-20% alcohol and 4-9% sugar. Wine is poured into barrels placed in maderniks - special rooms with artificial heating. Depending on the variety, wine aging at temperatures of 40-65° can last from three months to half a year. But to get vintage madera you have to wait for about two more years. Under such conditions, a saccharoamine reaction takes place, which provides the drink with amber color, specific aroma and caramel-nut taste. For local producers, madera is just one of the many varieties of wine on which, for the most part, they make money. And the islanders themselves, like the Portuguese, like less strong wines. Curiously enough, but by the end of the XIX century Madeira began to be massively counterfeited, and it was mainly the Spaniards, French and Germans who were involved in it.
Many vineyards in Madeira grow on fields with a natural slope of 25%, which determines the specificity of wine technology. Currently, the island produces more than 5 million liters of the invigorating drink per year.
There is enough space for everyone
Today, the island's population has grown to around 270,000 people, and considering that most of it is concentrated in the coastal strip, especially in the south, it seems a bit crowded in places. In the main city of the island, Funchal, lives 112 thousand people. The average population density reaches 335 people/km², but if you count with tourists, who do not leave here all year round, this figure is sure to grow even more. Surprisingly, judging by the figures, the number of inhabitants of the island has not actually changed over the last fifty years, despite the influx of immigrants. This is partly because some number of permanent residents have changed their residency and moved to other countries. Especially many have moved to the United States.
An island of mild climate and unusual beaches
The island's climate is generally defined as subtropical Mediterranean with a shift in precipitation to the winter season. It rains approximately 80 days a year. The climate is mitigated by the warm Gulf Stream current. It is humid and warm in winter and summer, with an average temperature difference of only 4-5 degrees. The conditionally cold period of time is February-April; at this time the water cools down from +25℃ to +17...+18℃, so not everyone dares to swim.
Not everyone knows that Madeira's shores are mostly steep and rocky with few bays. Many people think that the island does not have classic beaches, but this is not quite true, because in the area of the southern towns of Mashiko and Caleta they are still there, and sandy. In the capital Funchal, you can even choose whether to sunbathe on pebbles or sand. Pebble beaches, reminiscent of the Crimean beaches, in Madeira is quite a lot. In addition to this, many hotels are equipped with luxury artificial pools, and there are also many pools of natural origin, formed in the hollows of solidified lava masses.
Sunset, Madeira Island. Author - Marcio Gouveia.
Transportation curiosities
Another amazing thing is the local transportation “carroux de sestu” - wheelless wicker sleds, which began to be used for transportation as early as 1850. The sled is pulled by two sturdy men pushing it in front of them along a downward-flowing street. The speed of such a wagon reaches 48 km/h, with a trip duration of up to 10 minutes. The cost of the ride is 25 euros and, despite the decent price, there are always a lot of people willing to ride, especially among tourists. The number of passengers, among whom there are no more than two adults, does not affect the cost of the “cruise”. For fun, you can take a ride on one of the five cable cars or use the balloon located in the harbor of Funchal. The wealthiest guests can take advantage of a helicopter ride.
Local achievements
About 70% of Madeira's territory is protected by the state, which in itself is a real breakthrough. Nature abounds with endemics, such as tarantulas the size of a man's palm. There are over 250 species of snails and other mollusks with unique patterns and colors of shells.
The island is visited by tourists all year round, so there are many colorful public events. During the New Year celebrations once organized a fireworks display, the scale of which was honored with an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Madeira has a deep sea just off the coast, which is very popular with fishermen. In addition, there are conditions for horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, etc.
