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{{Infobox Islands
| name             = Porto Santo
| image name       = PortoSantoOceanView.jpg
| image caption    = 
| image size       = 
| locator map      = LocalPortoSanto.png
| native name      = 
| native name link = Portugal
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| coordinates      = 
| archipelago      = [[Madeira Islands]]
| total islands    = 
| major islands    = 
| area             = 42.17 km²
| highest mount    = 
| elevation        = 402 m
| country          = Portugal
| country admin divisions title     = [[Administrative divisions of Portugal|Autonomous Region]]
| country admin divisions           = [[Madeira Islands]]
| country admin divisions title 1   = 
| country admin divisions 1         = 
| country capital city              = 
| country largest city              = [[Porto Santo (town)]]
| country largest city population   = 4,474
| country leader title              = 
| country leader name               =
| population       = 4,474
| population as of = 2001
| density          = 106
| ethnic groups    = 
| additional info  =
}}

'''Porto Santo Island''' ([[Pronunciation|pron.]] {{IPA2|'poɾtu 'sɐ̃tu}}) is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] island 50 [[kilometers|km]] northeast of [[Madeira Island]] in the [[North Atlantic Ocean]]. Administratively, it is part of the [[Madeira|Autonomous Region of Madeira]]. The main urban area in which is one of the five [[municipalities in Portugal|Portuguese municipalities]] that have only one [[freguesia|parish]] is the city of [[Porto Santo (town)|Porto Santo]], also known as [[Vila Baleira]] ([[Pronunciation|pron.]] {{IPA2|'vilɐ bɐ'lɐiɾɐ}}).  The population in [[2001]] was 4,474.  The density was 106.1/km².  The island also has an airport which serves flights to [[Funchal]], which is only a 15-minute flight away.  It is the northernmost and the easternmost island of the Madeira Archipelago.  The municipality has no land boundaries and is encircled by the [[Atlantic Ocean]].  The nearest place is [[Machico]] in the island of [[Madeira]] to the southwest which serves as its port to Funchal.  The length of the island is about 9 km.  The main industry is tourism.  

== Geography ==
[[Image:Porto_santo_aerialview.jpg|left|thumb|270px|The island of Porto Santo as seen from the air]]
[[Image:Casa do colombo.JPG|thumb|270px|left|The house of Christopher Columbus in Porto Santo.]]
The island's geography includes farmlands in the southern and central parts and further to the south a long shoreline with a few beaches, forests and grasslands to the west, rocky ledges and cliffs with a longer coastline to its north, forests to the northeast, drylands with grasses to the northern part and mountains along the northeastern part with about five to six main mountaintops with a few grasslands. Much of the coastline is to the west, the north and the east. There are islets to the north east and a small peninsula with a mountaintop in the eastern end of the main island. Porto Santo has about 9 km of sandy beaches while Madeira island has virtually none, with tiny exceptions in e.g. Calheta.

*Location of Vila Baleira:
**Latitude: 33.0667 (33°4') N
**Longitude: 16.33 (16°20') W
*Altitude: 
**Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
**Centre: 175 m (577 feet)

== History ==
The official discovery of Porto Santo occurred in [[1418]], with the trip of the knights of Infant [[Henry the navigator|Henry]], [[João Gonçalves Zarco]] and [[Tristão Vaz Teixeira]], in accordance with the orders of king D. [[John I of Portugal|John I]].

Its captain-donee was [[Bartolomeu Perestrelo]], that received letter of donation in November of [[1445]]. The name of Porto Santo (Holy Port) was given, originally to the bay that, in the south coast, served of shelter when the navigators  had been gathered by a storm.

In the first centuries of settling, the development of this place knew some difficulties due to scarcity of water and to the assaults of Algerian and French [[piracy|pirates]].

* The discoveries of Porto Santo and Madeira were first described by Gomes Eannes de [[Azurara]] in ''Chronica da Descoberta e Conquista da Guiné''. (Eng. version by Edgar Prestage in 2 vols. issued by the Hakluyt Society, London, 1896-1899: ''The Chronicle of Discovery and Conquest of Guinea''.)

* [[Arkan Simaan]] relates in French these discoveries in his novel: ''L’Écuyer d’Henri le Navigateur'', published by Éditions l’Harmattan.

== Tourism ==
[[Image:Porto Santo.JPG|right|thumb|270px|The famous 9 km beach of Porto Santo]]
The 9km long sandy beach is the main attraction for tourists. 

[[Christopher Columbus]] married and lived there for some time. His house can still be visited today, as a museum.

The house became a museum and presents a permanent exhibition about Columbus' life and family ties with Porto Santo, as well as temporary art exhibitions.

The island has a [[golf course]] that is promoted by [[Spain|Spanish]] golfing champion [[Severiano Ballesteros]]. Porto Santo Golf Course is the largest course in the whole of the Madeira Archipelago and is able to accommodate 500 players at once. There are two 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course. Porto Santo golf complex, includes eight tennis courts and an equestrian center, circles Pico Ana Ferreira.

Porto Santo has several schools, a [[lyceum]], a gymnasium, several churches, a square (''[[praça]]''), a Congress Centre, a museum, shopping centres, bars, and restaurants.

== Settlements and geographic areas ==
[[image:PST1.png|thumb|City of Porto Santo Coat of Arms]]
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Name !! Latitude !! Longitude !! Elevation !! Map links
|-
| [[Camacha (Porto de Santo)|Camacha]] || 33.0833 (32°5') N || 16.33 (16°210') W || 172 m (567 ft) || [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.0833&longitude=-16.33&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.33&lat=33.0833&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]
|-
| [[Campo de Baixo]] || 33.05 (32°3') N || 16.35 (16°21') W || 176 m (580 ft) || [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.05&longitude=-16.35&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.35&lat=33.05&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]
|-
| [[Campo de Cima]] || 33.05 (32°3') N || 16.35 (16°21') W || 176 m (580 ft) || [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.05&longitude=-16.35&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.35&lat=33.05&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]
|-
| [[Pontinhas]] || 33.05 (32°3') N || 16.35 (16°21') W || 176 m (580 ft) || [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.05&longitude=-16.35&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.35&lat=33.05&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]
|-
| [[Portas Novas]] || 33.0667 (33°4') N || 16.33 (16°20') W || 175 m (577 ft) || [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=33.533&longitude=-16.733&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-16.733&lat=33.533&w=750&h=500 Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver]
|}

==External links==

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/vitor107/sets/1831598/ Photos from Porto Santo]

{{Municipalities in Madeira}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}

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[[Category:Madeira Islands]]
[[Category:Islands of Portugal]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Portugal]]

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[[ca:Porto Santo]]
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[[el:Πόρτο Σάντο]]
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[[fr:Porto-Santo]]
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[[nl:Porto Santo (eiland)]]
[[pt:Porto Santo]]
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