Estreito de Câmara de Lobos
Encyclopedia
Estreito de Câmara do Lobos ((ɨ)ˈʃtɾɐjtu dɨ ˈkɐmɐɾɐ dɨ ˈlobuʃ; Portuguese
for strait of Câmara de Lobos
) is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos
in the archipelago of Madeira
. In 2001 the resident population was 10,283, occupying an area of 7.87 km² (a density of approximayely 1306 inhabitants per square kilometre). Apart from its construction services and commerce, Estreito de Câmara do Lobos is important for its cultivation of grapes, for the production of Madeira wine
.
The parish was created in 1509, long after the first religious institutions were celebrated; parish records indicate that Franciscan clergy use to celebrate masses in an old chapel of wood around 1440 in the area of the parochial church.
On 14 September 1994, the parish was elevated to the status of town
, published in the Diário da República (Series A, nº213/14 September 1994).
, to the west by Quinta Grande
, and on the its eastern border with the municipality of Funchal
.
The north of the parish is primarily elevated mountains, where traditional levadas (earthen constructions) still function; these courses were used to transport water by gravity to the population centres and agricultural tracts along its course.
Many older manor homes still pepper the foothills of the parish, that were used as summer homes by nobles and merchants from old Funchal, marked by belvedres and lookouts, such Boca dos Namorados, Boca da Corrida and Jardim da Serra. It has a few schools, two churches and a civic centre.
The population of Estreito represents 29.6% the municipality's population, although this has varied considerably within the last 50 years: this includes the loss of many people from the de-annexation of Jardim da Serra
, as well as emigration and population shifts within the island. Regardless, of the five parishes that make-up Câmara de Lobos, Estreito had the second largest birth rate (16.9%), along with a high percentage of youth 0-14 years of age (25.7% or 2630). This was attributed by the local parish government with the settling of more families in the region, with young children or by young adults. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) records indicate approximately 2715 families in 2001, mostly composed of large families with many children, similarly reflected in 3217 family homes established in the parish.
Weekly, the centre of Estreito is taken over on Sunday by merchants to sell products in the market, materials for construction, off-the-rack clothing, animals and the negotiation of services.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
for strait of Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos -History:The location of the modern town is believed to be the original landing point for the Portuguese discoverer João Gonçalves Zarco, who is credited with the discovery of the Madeira Islands...
) is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos
Câmara de Lobos -History:The location of the modern town is believed to be the original landing point for the Portuguese discoverer João Gonçalves Zarco, who is credited with the discovery of the Madeira Islands...
in the archipelago of Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. In 2001 the resident population was 10,283, occupying an area of 7.87 km² (a density of approximayely 1306 inhabitants per square kilometre). Apart from its construction services and commerce, Estreito de Câmara do Lobos is important for its cultivation of grapes, for the production of Madeira wine
Madeira wine
Madeira is a fortified Portuguese wine made in the Madeira Islands. Some wines produced in small quantities in California and Texas are also referred to as "Madeira", or "Madera", although those wines do not conform to the EU PDO regulations...
.
History
The parishes name derives from oral tradition; although there are no dates affixed to the origin of the parish, the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos is associated with a small place situated near the parochial church, known for its physical characteristics as a strait; its history developed from there, and residents commonly referred to the area around the church as the estreito.The parish was created in 1509, long after the first religious institutions were celebrated; parish records indicate that Franciscan clergy use to celebrate masses in an old chapel of wood around 1440 in the area of the parochial church.
On 14 September 1994, the parish was elevated to the status of town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, published in the Diário da República (Series A, nº213/14 September 1994).
Geography
Estreito is bordered on the south and west by the parish of Câmara de Lobos, to the north by Jardim da SerraJardim da Serra
Jardim da Serra is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos in the archipelago of Madeira. In 2001, its population was just over 3,707 inhabitants, covering an area of 7.3km² Jardim da Serra (Portuguese meaning "mountain garden") is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de...
, to the west by Quinta Grande
Quinta Grande
Quinta Grande, created on 24 July 1848, is one of the five civil parishes that constitute the municipality of Câmara de Lobos in the archipelago of Madeira, with a population of 2156 inhabitants , extended across an area of 4.14 km²...
, and on the its eastern border with the municipality of Funchal
Funchal
Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 112,015 and has been the capital of Madeira for more than five centuries.-Etymology:...
.
The north of the parish is primarily elevated mountains, where traditional levadas (earthen constructions) still function; these courses were used to transport water by gravity to the population centres and agricultural tracts along its course.
Many older manor homes still pepper the foothills of the parish, that were used as summer homes by nobles and merchants from old Funchal, marked by belvedres and lookouts, such Boca dos Namorados, Boca da Corrida and Jardim da Serra. It has a few schools, two churches and a civic centre.
The population of Estreito represents 29.6% the municipality's population, although this has varied considerably within the last 50 years: this includes the loss of many people from the de-annexation of Jardim da Serra
Jardim da Serra
Jardim da Serra is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos in the archipelago of Madeira. In 2001, its population was just over 3,707 inhabitants, covering an area of 7.3km² Jardim da Serra (Portuguese meaning "mountain garden") is a civil parish in the municipality of Câmara de...
, as well as emigration and population shifts within the island. Regardless, of the five parishes that make-up Câmara de Lobos, Estreito had the second largest birth rate (16.9%), along with a high percentage of youth 0-14 years of age (25.7% or 2630). This was attributed by the local parish government with the settling of more families in the region, with young children or by young adults. Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) records indicate approximately 2715 families in 2001, mostly composed of large families with many children, similarly reflected in 3217 family homes established in the parish.
Economy
At the time of its ascension to town, its population included 13000 inhabitants, dedicated to construction, commerce, horticulture and agriculture, specifically the cultivation of grapes for wine and cherries. The parish is important in Maderia wine production, being the heaviest producer of the spirit in the region, as well as its prime beef cattle.Weekly, the centre of Estreito is taken over on Sunday by merchants to sell products in the market, materials for construction, off-the-rack clothing, animals and the negotiation of services.