Aguas dos Tornos

Madrei

Nascente dos Tornos Altos (intake of 1914) N 32° 41.750 W 16°54.850 ca. 875 m a.s.l.

Intake of 1929: N 32° 41.700 W 16°54.880 ca. 840 m a.s.l.

Course

It begins at the springs, runs above the Levada dos Tornos south, crosses the Levada dos Tornos, runs on the damaged stone bridge over the Ribeira do Pisao, as far as Corujeira, along the Caminho da Levada dos Tornos to the Levada da Corujeira and the Caminho dos Saltos, to an old drinking-water reservoir from 1933. Drinking water was stored here.

End

Tanque ca. 415 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Former water supply for Funchal

Access

1. From Corujeira along the piped levada, over the half-ruined bridge in the valley of the Rib. do Pisao, up to the Levada dos Tornos south, then off to the right (see photo 4), along the slope and to the tunnel.

2. Path from the Levada do Barreiro and from the Parque Ecologico do Funchal

3. From Terca on the road that leads to the quarry; climb from the old water station (steep and slippery!), see the map

Condition

The Aguas dos Tornos on the section from Corujeira to the stone bridge is easy; crossing the bridge is a little more awkward, and the path from the Levada dos Tornos south to the Nascentes is sometimes a little overgrown. The last section is exposed, but well protected by a wall; the path to the lower intake is extremely exposed and unprotected!

Remarks

Along the way you pass old maintenance tunnels and a surge chamber, which is no longer in operation. Water still flows in the pipes, but from the first basins onwards they are laid in the ground.

Shortly before the old tunnel a levada branches off to the left, leading to an intake from 1929. The path is very dangerous and exposed!!

Since the water treatment plant at Alegria was built (water from the Levada dos Tornos south), the Aguas dos Tornos have lost importance.