In fairy tales we often find descriptions of enchanting forests, with sublime landscapes covered in enchanting mist. And although these stories are part of the human imagination, the inspiration has come from nature itself. Madeira Island is characterized by being home to beautiful landscapes full of steep mountains, rocky beaches and imposing volcanoes. But in addition to that, it is the place where imagination and reality come together, the place where fairy tale forests come to life through the ancient forest of Fanal.
During the mornings, the fog is responsible for covering everything that inhabits Fanal, a site that, due to its magnificence and natural beauty, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a laurel forest type, which is a subtropical cloud forest typical of humid, warm places with infrequent frosts. Therefore, it is an ecosystem of great exuberance where the oldest on the planet and the most exotic creatures in the world are hidden.
Image: Albert Dros
It is known that about 15 million years ago, much of southern Europe was covered by this type of landscape. But today the beauty of the laurel forests has been greatly reduced, to such a degree that they are now extremely rare. They can only be found on the island of Madeira and the Azores, in Portugal and in the Canary Islands. But of all of them, the Fanal forest in Madeira stands out for its beauty and ecological importance, in addition to being famous for its hiking trails.
Image: Albert Dros
Walking among the oldest trees on the planet and observing the magical beauty that characterizes them is an experience that very few can live. For this reason, photographer Albert Dros took on the task of capturing the essence of that charming place, to show the world the place where imagination and reality come together.
Through a photographic series, it shows the picturesque essence of the Fanal forest. Landscapes of trees covered by moss and surrounded by mist crossed by the play of light and shadows, seem straight out of a true fairy tale. The snapshots manage to capture the ethereal essence of the forest and transmit the irremediable peace that covers that dream place.
Image: Albert Dros
“Walking here is simply magical,” says the photographer. “With the forest covered in fog, sometimes you don’t know if you’re walking in a . This forest is something he has never experienced before.”
Fortunately, Fanal is currently protected by its World Heritage status. So it will remain intact for at least a few more years, its inhabitants will continue providing magic in an oasis in the middle of the world.