The third highest mountain in Portugal is 1862 meters, with a thin vegetation and is the only one in the world chosen by a bird to nest. It's called Pico Ruivo and is on the island of Madeira.
Among the inhabitants of this elevation stand out the blackbird, the wood finch, the bisbis and the endemic wood nun, the most endangered seabird in Europe, which nest in the mountainous massif of the island.
As for the flora of these slopes, heather and moss are the dominant species.
Getting up there isn't for everyone. The car is on a yard more than 2 km away and you have to climb a steep trail to the crest of the hill. A good couple of years ago, when there was no way, it was a real adventure.
Now it's just a matter of legs and lungs. Moisture does not help and it is almost inevitable to reach the top swamped with sweat. But from above, the view is more than rewarding and, on the way back, all the saints help.
For those who enjoy walking, Pico Ruivo is connected by a series of well-marked paths, either to Pico do Areeiro to the south or Encumeada to the west. Below, the picturesque village of Santana, with its typical wooden houses.
