Levada do Meio

Madrei

Ribeira Funda N 32°41.300 W 17°02.000 ca. 560 m a.s.l.

Course

South of the Ribeira Funda; after about 100 metres a path over a bridge to the Levada do Norte Süd; after another 200 metres a further path comes down from the Levada do Norte Süd; after about 100 metres more a narrow, steep path leaves to the right for the Madre of the Levada de Baixo. After another 100 metres the levada is suddenly overgrown; here the water runs down the valley in a stream into the Ribeira Funda and so feeds the Levada de Baixo. Getting any further here is not possible.

Originally it went on to the path that meets the levada from Eira do Mourao via the Levada de Baixo. There was once also a path to the Levada do Norte Süd. On above terraces that are no longer worked today. After it meets the first houses it turns into a stream cutting, then is somewhat overgrown; a bypass is possible. After that it is partly covered with slabs as far as the end in Boa Morte. After passing under the road it continues a few metres more, without water, to a reservoir

The levada runs about 50 metres of elevation below the Levada do Norte Süd and about 100 metres of elevation above the Levada de Baixo

End

Boa Morte ca. 480 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Originally irrigation of the area around Boa Morte; today (2014) out of service, at most local irrigation of the fields at the start of the levada

Access

• Descent from the Levada do Norte Süd to the Madre

• Descent from the Levada do Norte Süd to the first section

• Ascent from the Madre of the Levada do Baixo to the middle section

• Ascent from Eira do Mourao and from the first section of the Levada do Baixo to the overgrown middle part; also from the Levada do Norte Süd to this point

• To the end in Boa Morte (with a name board) by the road that comes down from the roundabout with access to the VE-1 (tunnel via Corujeira to Igreja), or from the road that branches off the Caminho da Pedra (ER-229)

On foot from the first crossing of the Levada do Baixo with the road, on foot along the road

Condition

• From the Madre to the end, cleared in August 2014 (see the map) and temporarily in use

• From Boa Morte northwards, in perfect condition until just after the last houses, then increasingly overgrown and fallen away. From Boa Morte the levada continues between the houses to a reservoir and looks maintained, but without water (2014)

Remarks

From the Madre of the Levada do Meio it is worth going a little further in the bed of the Ribeira Funda: a gorge of stunning beauty, with sheer walls and little light, and high above it the bridge of the Levada do Norte Süd over the Ribeira Funda. Not dangerous, but the approach is made a little harder by a curtain of brambles!