Levada da Roda

Madrei

Ribeira da Boaventura N 32°41.750 W 16°49.550 ca. 460 m a.s.l.

Course

The very old Madre is in the Ribeira da Boaventura and is no longer accessible. Further along I found an intermediate Madre; everything is very overgrown and there is no real flow of water. The stretch from here to the first water mill is not without danger and very overgrown, but surprisingly well preserved. These stretches run on the north-east side of the Lombo Fonte dos Almocreves. Just before the crossing with the Rua da Lombada stand 2 ruined water mills with fine aqueducts (Moinho da Roda I and Moinho da Roda II). Very little water flows, presumably to supply the houses east of the Rua da Lombada. On the other side of the road the Vereda Levada da Roda begins, and after about 20 metres water, presumably from the Levada dos Tornos, is led into the newly restored levada bed. After the stream crossing there is a levada divider in a small hut. Here the first terminal branch turns off; after the junction it fed an old, relatively well preserved water mill (Moinho das Regadinhas). This terminal branch leads to the nearest road and continues downhill towards the east.

The main branch then crosses a regional road, the crossing with the road that climbs from Palmeira. The main branch is led into a large storage basin. From here, 2 terminal branches:

South-western terminal branch: this branch is fed from the reservoir. I did not see the junction; I only found the half-ruined levada remains and small bridges. According to the Caminheiros Anonimos it runs open again towards the south-west after a piped section. First it meets a regional road and follows it for 200 metres, later it crosses a regional road again, and it ends at the ER-206 in Gaula

South-eastern terminal branch: the access from the reservoir is relatively new and piped. At an old wash house, water is led into the terminal branch. A small junction, two crossings with a regional road, another crossing with a regional road, and the end in Palmeira

End

Gaula, Palmeira ca. 120 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Water supply for the areas around Gaula and Palmeira

Access

Regional roads (see the map)

Condition

The old Madre area is overgrown and not accessible. From the intermediate Madre to the Rua da Lombada it is fairly dangerous and overgrown, but intact, with little water. Otherwise easy on the level stretches; on the vertical sections the path alongside is poor in places.