Levada (Nova) da Achada Grande

Madrei

Ribeira dos Moinhos N 32°48.200 W 16°58.800 ca. 500 m a.s.l.

Course

From the Madre it runs first above Boaventura to the only tunnel. Before the tunnel, at the information boards, a descent to Boaventura is possible; immediately before the tunnel, on the left, a path leads to the miradouro with the Geodesico (10'). After the tunnel it runs high above the valley of the Ribeira do Porco, in the rock walls, then more gently towards Tanque, where there is a large water tank. It continues above Faca de Cima, and the water runs off along a stream bed. After that the levada is almost dry until a short steep passage for the remaining outflow. Beyond that the levada is increasingly ruined and ends in a gorge; no continuation is visible.

End

Above the road to Lombo do Urzal ca. 475 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Irrigation of the area around Achada Grande and Tanque, and feeding a levada above Boaventura

Access

• Via the Madre of the Levada de Cima

• Boaventura (signpost)

• Rocada, or Cabo da Ribeira

• Tanque

• Various ascents from the road to Achada da Madeira are possible

Condition

Relatively wide levada path, but in places exposed and without protection, 1 tunnel

Remarks

This levada was built in the 1960s to replace the disused Levada Velha da Achada Grande ou das Esmoitadas. That followed the building of the Levada dos Tornos, which tapped the water sources of the old levada. The Madre was therefore placed in the Ribeira dos Moinhos, and the new levada now flows in the opposite direction to the old one.

Near the path boards a small branch, here a little closer, leads water into a small gorge. A few metres of elevation further down the water is caught at a Madre and diverted into a small levada. This serves to irrigate the fields above Boaventura.