Levada do Paul do Mar

Madrei

Water tank of the Levada Nova West in Sao Lourenco

Course

From the water tank in Sao Lourenco the water runs, partly in pipes, along the Caminho Sao Lourenco to the ER 223 above the Restaurante O Precipio here. From here ca. 200 metres in the roadside ditch to a levada divider. Here the levada splits into 2 branches:

A western branch passes under the road and continues as a waterfall into the Ribeira das Galinhas. In the otherwise dry stream bed the water is caught and led through an intermediate Madre into a small levada. Covered at first, then open, and piped again shortly before it reaches the ER 223, towards the Ribeira das Galinhas.

The eastern branch continues along the road and, where it crosses the Ribeira das Galinhas, is fed by a feeder levada that takes water from the Ribeira das Galinhas. The eastern branch always runs in the roadside ditch and carries water all the way down into Paul do Mar.

Function and use

Supplies the fields in Ribeira das Galinhas and Paul do Mar

Access

Caminho Sao Lourenco above and below the junction with the ER 223 in Sao Lourenco, and above the Restaurante O Precipio

The levada along the road is easy to follow; access to the feeder levada is here.

The lower small levada out of the Ribeira das Galinhas can be reached from the last hairpin of the ER 223 here. From here one also sees the waterfall.

Condition

On the upper part, no problem along the Caminho de Sao Lourenco.

The waterfall passage obviously cannot be walked. The small levada from the hairpin is narrow but easy to walk. The waterfall can be reached from below, though it is usually overgrown.

The small feeder levada likewise: narrow, but no problem if one is careful.

Remarks

The levada was probably split into 2 branches for reasons of ownership. As the course goes, the road passage would be safe enough, and the western branch would be easy to supply from the hairpin.