Levada do Juncal

Preliminary note

The Levada do Juncal is a very old levada in its own right. It was already mentioned in 1830, and it takes its water from the Ribeira do Juncal. At Ribeiro Frio it uses the channel of the Levada do Furado as far as Lamaceiros, then continues in its own channel to Lombo da Raiz, on to Santo da Serra and further to Agua da Penha and Santa Cruz. Between 1840 and 1985 the channel of the Levada do Juncal was also used by the Levada dos Accionistas, and between 1905 and 1971 by the historic Levada da Serra do Faial, which however no longer exists in its original form. The water was divided at the Caixa Divisoria (water divider) in Lamaceiros, Lombo de Raiz and Santo da Serra according to the water shares of the individual levadas.

The whole history, the development and the naming in this region are a little confusing and can only be understood in a wider context. I have therefore tried to bring some structure to it, and I have gathered on a separate page the findings I was able to take from the Elucidario Madeirense of 1921 (first edition) and of 1940 (second edition): Historical development of the Levada da Serra do Faial and the surrounding levadas

Madrei

Ribeira do Juncal N 32°43.900 W 16°54.660 ca. 960 m a.s.l.

Course

Madre in the valley of the Ribeira do Juncal, a gallery tunnel, a remarkable course on the sheer walls. Shortly before the end an access path from the gravel track to the Faja da Nogueira power station meets the levada; shortly before the viewpoint over the Balcoes the levada meets the wide gravel track, then follows the gravel track to Ribeiro Frio.

On from Lamaceiros to the Lombo da Raiz and to Santo da Serra, splitting into 2 terminal branches towards Agua Pena and Santa Cruz. The part from Lombo da Raiz to the end is now mostly piped and is called the Levada da Serra, which in places also follows a different course from the Levada do Juncal.

End

Ribeiro Frio N 32°44.125 W 16°53.160 ca. 890 m a.s.l. / Santa Cruz and Agua de Pena

Function and use

• Originally: water supply for the continuation of the Levada do Juncal from the water divider at Lombo da Raiz, and supply of Santo da Serra, Santa Cruz and Agua de Pena (see Historical development of the Levada do Furado, Juncal and Serra do Faial)

• Today: feed to the Levada do Furado, the Levada da Serra do Faial from Lamaceiros, the Levada da Portela and the Levada da Serra da Santa Cruz.

Access

• The Madre can be reached through the small gorge from the Madre of the Levada Nova do Juncal (pathless, only in dry weather!)

• Via the path from the gravel track to the power station

• Via the Balcoes gravel track (turn off before the viewpoint)

Condition

Poorly maintained until 2013, and fitted with rope protection since then, though repeatedly hit by landslides. Piped. Walking it is very demanding and dangerous; a head for heights and sure footing are essential, and there is a danger of rockfall. Given those conditions, an absolute dream walk, continuing to the Levada Nova do Juncal (see Walk 2015).

Remarks

This levada is a brilliant masterpiece by the engineers and master builders of the time. In places the channel was cut directly out of the rock, and it runs through dizzying sheer walls.