Levada Nova do Juncal

Madrei

Tributary of the Ribeira do Juncal N 32°43.850 W 16°54.450 ca. 960 m a.s.l.

Course

From the Madre through a tunnel, then exposed and practically unprotected to the 2nd tunnel (S-shaped, with a gallery window), in the valley of the Ribeira do Juncal over stream-training works, a long tunnel to the valley of the Ribeira das Lajes, several inflows rich in water as far as the entrance of the Pico da Nogueira tunnel, confluence with the Levada da Serra do Faial, inflow to the reservoir and to the penstock of the Faja da Nogueira power station

End

Confluence with the Levada da Serra do Faial ca. 940 m a.s.l., reservoir and penstock to the Faja da Nogueira power station

Function and use

Inflow to the Faja da Nogueira power station

Access

• Ascent from the Madre of the Levada do Juncal through the gorge of the side branch of the Ribeira do Juncal (see Walk 2015)

• Northern entrance of the Pico Nogueira tunnel (confluence of the Levada da Serra do Faial and the Levada Nova do Juncal). To here via

  • The Levada da Serra do Faial

  • The trodden path from the reservoir of the Faja da Nogueira power station

  • The gravel track from the Faja da Nogueira power station, or as a shortcut the path from the Faja da Nogueira power station to Faja da Nogueira

Condition

A head for heights is required; an exciting, empty and wild area

Remarks

What is striking in the long tunnel is that the water from the Ribeira do Juncal flows into the levada and runs towards the Pico da Nogueira tunnel, while the water from the Ribeira das Lajes is dammed above the levada and led into a pipe that runs in the tunnel against the levada's direction of flow, into the valley of the Ribeira do Juncal. There the water is emptied into the stream bed and so feeds the Madre of the Levada do Juncal. More detail and background under Historical development of the Levada da Serra do Faial and the surrounding levadas.