Historically, the area experienced flooding from the sea when the Atlantic submerged and inundated fields to a depth of one metre.

Calheta has an important art centre (Portuguese: Casa das Mudas) and many of the typical facilities that you would expect in a small village.

Paul do Mar has significant commercial businesses for a village,[citation needed] including shops, a small supermarket, bars, cafes, restaurants, a patisserie/bakery, a main primary school, Catholic church, a health centre, a bank, a football ground, a four-star hotel, and a number of self-catering holiday houses and apartments.

[citation needed] In the story "Tribos da Madeira", the French claim the abandoned parish for themselves after failing to subjugate the Dutch tribe of Orania-Sea in neighbouring Jardim do Mar.

An outpost is established in the Ribeira das Galinhas area, which is later abandoned after they leave and head for Fajã da Ovelha and Prazeres.