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Fajã dos Padres on "Earth"
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:47 am
by Marco D.
For those who have downloaded Google "Earth", it looks like they finally have some high resolution images of the Island of Madeira. I've been trying to locate the Fajã dos Padres vineyard and from what I can gather, I think I found it. Point to 32.657, -17.025 and take a look... is that it?
For those who haven't downloaded Google "Earth", you can do it here:
http://earth.google.com
It's a truely amazing application, and it really gives you a feel for the landscape of the island... especially with "terrain" turned on.
Don't forget to check out the airport... barely clinging to land. Those who have flown in know what I mean.
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:36 pm
by Paul Day
Marco, that's it. Just west of Cabo Girao (the really big cliff), east of Campanario. You can even see the cable car on Google Earth.
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:59 am
by Andy Velebil
I've never used google earth before. WOW. that was a cool tour. I also checked out Porto and the douro river. It was a bit fuzzy, but I was able to find Quinta do Bofim. I will be spending more time doing some sight seeing before my trip with Roy to Portugal.
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:16 pm
by Roy Hersh
Marco,
Thank you for sharing that fabulous tool. Just wonderful to utilize!
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:36 pm
by Mike Kerr
Very interesting! I had no idea the island was that far away from the mainland! I thought it was just off the coast.
It's actually closer to Morocco than Portugal. I never would have guessed.
Mike.
Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:20 am
by Roy Hersh
Mike,
I believe it is like 600 miles off the coast of Portugal and it is certainly closer to N. Africa than to any part of Europe.
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:32 am
by Marco D.
Actually, one of the nice features of Google Earth is the distance measuring tool. Try the menu: "Tools->Measure".
I get 430 miles from Morocco...
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:28 pm
by Andy Velebil
So I found Quinta do Vesuvio today. I never really realized how far up river the quintas were. They are almost all the way to Spain
From VNG to Vesuvio (by taking the Douro river) it is approximately 92 miles or 148 km. Thats a long way on a small boat filled with barrels of port. The douro river gets very narrow through some parts. It must have been quite a ride back in the older days.
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:06 pm
by Marco D.
Hey Andy,
I think you need to take into account when the satellite picture was taken. As I understand it, the river width varies widely depending on the time of year. I believe it is widest in the spring, when the trip would usually be made (I would think). Of course, that was before the dams...
Could you post the lat/long for Quinta do Vesuvio? Thanks!
Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:44 pm
by Andy Velebil
lat=41.1360144059, lon=-7.26120696815
here is the pointer coordinates
41 degres 08'29.92"N
7 degres 15'43.58"W
Directly across the river is Quinta da Senhora da Ribiera