12 June 2022 Calheta Hydro Power — then and now

Course

Along the newly and massively rebuilt western Levada Nova as far as the newly built reservoir, and on to the old turbine house.

Past the new turbine house and the massive pressure pipes onto the eastern Levada Nova and as far as the mountain-bike track.

On this, up as far as the track that leads to the end reservoir of the Levada da Rocha Vermelha. Shortly before it you cross, for the first time, the new pressure pipe of the pumped-storage power station, which still does not seem to be in full operation.

On the Levada da Rocha Vermelha as far as the Rocha Vermelha tunnel. Climb to the levada house at the exit of the Furado Novo.

Here you meet the Levada Vinte e Cinco Fontes, which, since the old pressure pipes were taken out of use, also seems to be in full operation again on the south side (see the remarks further down).

Through broom and flowering pride of Madeira as far as the waterfall, which here leads the water from the old reservoir into the Levada Vinte e Cinco Fontes. On under the old pressure pipes of the Calheta I power station as far as the end reservoir.

From here descent along the track and a downhill run as far as the road to the Levada da Rocha Vermelha. This time, because of an acute risk of slipping, descent on the road as far as the turn-off of the eastern Levada Nova onto the Lombo da Atougaia.

Back on the eastern Levada Nova to the power station and from here on the track above the new reservoir, with a privileged overview of the Lombo do Brasil and the small power station.

From here on the track and the road back to the start.

Distance: 12.5 km, 450 m of ascent, 450 m of descent

Start: 14.25 Estrada Doutor Roberto Monteiro

End

18.35 Estrada Doutor Roberto Monteiro

Condition

The approach along the western Levada Nova is a bit monotonous beside the concrete boxes.

At the power station you first have to get your bearings among the many steps and bridges.

Along the eastern Levada Nova it is normal again, and in typical Nova fashion.

The climb on the bike path is slippery in places, because mountain bikes are on it at times too.

The levadas here are wide and unproblematic, as is the climb to the levada house.

The descent is steep, as always: first on the gravel track, then a bit slippery on the bike path.

Remarks

On our first visit (Walk 2012) the water from the Levada Vinte e Cinco Fontes was led, after the Furado Novo, straight into the stream bed and so to the Levada da Rocha Vermelha. The bed of the Levada Vinte e Cinco Fontes was dry.

The water in the old storage reservoir at the Rabacal car park is, as long as no pumping station to the new reservoir has been built, led via the waterfall to the Levada Vinte e Cinco Fontes and, at its end, run through the turbines by the pressure pipe. Why the old pressure pipes from the old storage reservoir were taken out of service while the pumping station had not yet been built, and the extra energy thus given up, is unclear to me. In any case the two old pipes were not dismantled further down. Up top there was probably not enough room for 3 pressure pipes.