Monte (Funchal)
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Monte (Portuguese meaning mountain) is a parish in the district and a suburb of Funchal in the Madeira Islands. The parish is also known as Nossa Senhora do Monte. The population in 2001 is 7,444, its density is 399.1/km² and the area is 18.65 km². It is located a few kilometres east of Funchal and is near the road linking Funchal and Faial at approximately at the 4th km. The main industry are businesses. The mountains are to the north. Monte is between 600 and 800 m above sea level. The church is called Nossa Senhora do Monte which was first opened in 1741. Monte is one of the largest parishes in Madeira.
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[edit] Nearest parishes
[edit] Geography
- Location:
- Latitude: 32.667 (32°40') N
- Longitude: 16.9 (16°54') W
- Altitude:
- Lowest: approximately 200 m
- Centre: 314 m (1,033 ft)
Monte has a few schools, lyceums, a few gymnasia, churches and a few squares (praças).
[edit] Information
Between 1893 and 1943, the area was connected and was Madeira's only cog rail which used to carry guests and passengers between Funchal and Monte and to Terreiro da Luta at 867 m above sea level. The area are accessed with buses, taxis and the cable cars today.
The cable car was first opened nearly 100 years after the opening of the cog railway. The station is located at Parque Almirante Reis in downtown Funchal. The length of the cable car line and the height difference is between 560 m and 3,718 m long and the destination is only 15 min. The line has over 39 cabs with 8 seats each carrying 800 passengers an hour.
The course includes steep areas. One of the lines passes through Caminho do Monte which runs through the northern suburbs of Funchal.
Probably the most popular feature of Monte for the visitor today is the toboggan run. This enables visitors to be transported downhill through the streets at fairly high speeds in large wicker baskets, conducted by two drivers wearing the traditional white uniform with straw boater hat.
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