Levada das Fontes

Madrei

Side branch of the unnamed ribeira from Ribeirinho to Penedia N 32°51.938 W 17°10.625 ca. 94 m a.s.l.

Course

The levada is taken from a side branch of the unnamed ribeira that leads from Ribeirinho down to Penedia under the bridge of the CR23. It is really a stepped levada, from which the water used to be led into the cubo of the watermill. Today the water runs down the steps and straight in at the side, into the room where the paddles of the mill wheel once stood.

The levada then continues in the rock face into the cleft of the main branch of the ribeira named above. The rock section under the old butter factory (Fábrica Antiga de Manteiga) can be bypassed a little lower down.

Access to the butter factory was along the levada, on the eastern side of the cleft.

After that the levada runs along the Vereda das Fontes to the Rua do Lugar da Bica; from here it is piped.

End

Rua do Lugar da Bica ca. 77 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Formerly the feed to the watermill, and then irrigation in Porto Moniz

Access

Vereda dos Fontes

Condition

easy

Remarks

Historically very interesting, with the old butter factory and the remains of the watermill