Levada do Meio

Madrei

Ribeiro Do Bonito N 32°47.515 W 16°56.602 ca. 820 m a.s.l.

Course

Along the Ribeiro do Bonito on the steep flank of the Lombo de Ribeiro Lourenço, around the lombo to the west as far as the crossing of the Ribeiro de Sebastião Vaz. After that, probably first a little higher, then roughly along today's Levada do Rei to the car park that is now used for the walk on the Levada do Rei.

Here it probably split, like today's Levada do Rei, into 2 terminal branches. The southern branch ended at Pico; the northern one split again after 700 metres. The more southerly branch split once more, and both branches ended at Achada Grande. The more northerly branch ended in the Tanque area, the more southerly one at Eira do Pico

End

3 terminal branches: Tanque (ca. 330 m a.s.l.), Achada Grande (ca. 340 m a.s.l.), Pico (ca. 430 m a.s.l.)

Function and use

Water supply around Achada Grande and Sao Jorge,

Access

• From the Madre of the Levada do Rei along the bed of the Ribeiro do Bonito

• From the crossing with the Ribeiro de Sebastião Vaz

• Descent from the cross-path over the Ribeiro do Bonito

Condition

Demanding, mostly ruined, in places exposed!

From the Ribeiro de Sebastião Vaz it is partly built into the new Levada do Rei

Year built

Probably 1910-1926 (planned by the last king, Manuel II, who abdicated in 1910). It was built and completed when Portugal was already a republic. In memory of the king this levada was then named "Levada do Rei"). On old maps it is also called Levada Nova. The old "Levada do Rei" may also correspond to the Levada de Cima de Sao Jorge, and this levada was built in the period between 1926 and 1966.

Remarks

The levada was taken out of service when the Levada do Rei opened in 1966