Levada da Faja da Nogueira

Madrei

NW entrance of the Pico Ruivo tunnel N 32°46.350 W 16°56.550 ca. 1025 m a.s.l., fed by the Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno and the Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior.

Course

The Levada da Faja da Nogueira, or do Pico Ruivo, can be divided into 3 sections:

Section 1:

The Levada da Faja da Nogueira begins in the valley of the Ribeira Grande at the confluence of the Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno and the Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior. The water is led through the Pico Ruivo tunnel and comes back to the surface in the valley of the Ribeira Seca.

This section is also called 'Levada do Pico Ruivo', but together with the rest of the levada it forms one working whole.

Section 2:

The water is led across the bed of the Ribeira Seca on a stream-bed structure and disappears into an S-shaped gallery tunnel that was built in 1970. Through one of the gallery windows it is also fed by the small Levadinha Joao de Deus, by a pipe spanning the stream.

If you follow this inflow as far as the pipe, you are standing on the original course of the levada up to 1970. It followed the lombo after the pipe, above the Ribeira Seca. Clear traces can be seen, also from the opposite side (Levadinha Joao de Deus).

In the tunnel you sometimes trip over the old construction rails, which were left behind after the building (they can still be found in the Pico Ruivo tunnel too). On along a wide levada path (almost a gravel track) through one small and one larger tunnel to a stream cutting. From here through 7 very short tunnels to the two levada houses at the Cabeco do Gavino

Section 3:

First the gravel track from the Faja da Nogueira power station meets the levada. From there, dizzyingly above the valley of the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira, through 9 shorter tunnels, some of them very narrow, which can in part be bypassed on the valley side. Some of the tunnels are so narrow that you have to walk sideways between the tunnel wall and the high levada wall. The levada swings into the valley of the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira. Several inflows rich in water, as far as the bridge over the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira. There, on the left side of the valley, water from the stream is led into the levada by a feeder levada. The stream is crossed on a massive stone levada bridge.

End

Stone bridge over the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira and the start of the Levada da Serra do Faial ca. 1000 m a.s.l.

Terminology and history: The naming of the section from the Pico do Nogueira to the tunnel end in the Ribeira Seca is inconsistent (sources: EEM homepage, IGeoE maps)

What is certain is the name "Levada do Pico Ruivo" for the course in the Pico Ruivo tunnel (2437 m). According to the EEM homepage, the section between the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira and the tunnel end in the Ribeira Seca is also called "Levada da Serra do Faial", the same as the section from the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira to the confluence with the Levada do Juncal.

According to the current IGeoE map, the section between the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira and the tunnel end in the Ribeira Seca is called "Levada da Faja do Nogueira". The tunnel section carries no special name.

On the old IGeoE map (ca. 1968) the Pico Ruivo tunnel and the Faja da Nogueira power station and the Levada do Juncal (built in 1970/71) are not yet drawn, and the Levadinha Joao de Deus runs from the Ribeira Seca downstream! A connection from the Pico da Nogueira to the present Madre of the Levada do Furado is also drawn. The whole section from this Madre to the Ribeira Seca is called "Levada da Serra do Faial" here.

Likewise, on old maps and on signs on the spot, the Levada do Furado is labelled 'Levada da Serra do Faial'. The continuation in Lamaceiros is also called Levada da Serra do Faial.

From this it can be concluded that the Levada da Serra do Faial and the Levada da Faja da Nogueira, from 1904 until the building of the Faja da Nogueira power station in 1970, were connected with the Levada do Furado and formed one whole (more detail under Levada do Furado).

In any case I have decided, at this point, to call the levada from the end at the Pico da Nogueira as far as the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira 'Levada da Serra do Faial', and to call the section from the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira to the north-western tunnel entrance of the Pico Ruivo tunnel 'Levada da Faja da Nogueira' or 'Levada do Pico Ruivo'.

Function and use

Inflow to the Faja da Nogueira power station via the 'Levada da Serra do Faial'

Access

Section 1:

• North-western exit of the Pico Ruivo tunnel; to here via the

  • Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno

  • Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior

  • Levada do Caldeirao Verde inferior

• Via section 2

Section 2:

• Via section 1

• Via the old access path to the levada house (map)

• Via section 3

Section 3:

• Via section 2

• Via the gravel track from the Faja da Nogueira power station

• The Levada da Serra do Faial

Condition

Section 1: A long, gently winding tunnel with a geocache in the middle; the problem here is the construction rails, or rather the sleepers, which you can trip over

Section 2: Path straightforward; tunnels as above

Section 3: In places very exposed, protection partly out of order, narrow tunnels (nothing for anyone who is claustrophobic); sure footing and a head for heights are required

Remarks

The road to the Faja da Nogueira power station is not without problems for small cars, but it can be done (at walking pace!).

The walking time from the ER-103 is ca. 1 hour.

A circular walk loosely after the Rother walking guide: ascent from the Faja da Nogueira power station, possibly a detour to the Ribeira Seca (section 2), and there if you like onto the Levadinha Joao de Deus (not in the Rother; my suggestion), back via sections 2 and 3, Levada da Serra do Faial, possibly a detour to the Levada do Juncal through the Pico da Nogueira tunnel (not in the Rother; my suggestion), on a rough path to the reservoir and to the pressure pipe of the Faja da Nogueira power station with a viewpoint (very much to be recommended), descent on the gravel track, possibly with a shortcut via Faja da Nogueira past the Flintstone houses (geocache)