Levada do Pico Ruivo

Preliminary note

As for the name "Levada da Faja da Nogueira, do Pico Ruivo or Serra do Faial", there is a true chaos of unclear and contradictory terms. I have tried to bring some structure to it, and I have set out what I could take from the Elucidario Madeirense of 1921 (first edition) and of 1940 (second edition) on a page of its own: Historical development of the Levada da Serra do Faial and the surrounding levadas

What is certain is the name "Levada do Pico Ruivo" for the course in the Pico Ruivo tunnel (2437 m).

According to the EEM website, the section from the Ribeira Seca to the confluence with the Levada Nova do Juncal in the Pico da Nogueira tunnel is correctly called "Levada da Serra do Faial".

According to the current IGeoE map and the Kompass map, the section from the tunnel exit in the Ribeira Seca to the Ribeira da Faja da Nogueira is called "Levada da Faja do Nogueira", and on the Kompass map even "Levada da Fajal da Nogueira". The tunnel section has no special name.

On the Tour &TRail map this section is called "Levada do Pico Ruivo".

On the old IGeoE map (ca. 1968) the Pico Ruivo tunnel, the Faja da Nogueira power station and the Levada Nova do Juncal (built 1970/71) are not yet shown, and the Levadinha Joao de Deus is drawn running down-valley from the Ribeira Seca, which is not actually correct, because this levada was taken out of service in 1904! The whole section from the Madre on the Ribeira Seca to the Ribeira do Juncal is correctly called "Levada da Serra do Faial" here.

The names Levada da Faja da Nogueira or do Pico Ruivo do not denote a levada in its own right, but at most a section of a levada structure ("historic Levada da Serra do Faial"). This "historic Levada da Serra do Faial" ran from 1905 to 1971, from the Ribeira Seca above the Faja da Nogueira to the Pico do Infante above Sao Goncalo, shortly before Funchal. In 1971 the Pico Ruivo tunnel was opened, so that part can rightly be called "Levada do Pico Ruivo". Also in 1971 the "historic Levada da Serra do Faial" was cut off before the Pico da Nogueira and connected to the Faja da Nogueira power station.

The correct names are therefore: "Levada do Pico Ruivo" for the course in the Pico Ruivo tunnel from the confluence of the Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno and the Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior as far as the Ribeira Seca, and "Levada da Serra do Faial" from the Ribeira Seca to the Pico da Nogueira!

Madrei

North-west entrance of the Pico Ruivo tunnel, N 32°46.350 W 16°56.550 ca. 1025 m a.s.l., fed by the Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno and the Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior.

Course

The water is led through the Pico Ruivo tunnel, which was opened in 1971, and comes back to the surface in the valley of the Ribeira Seca. From the tunnel section, a somewhat exposed stretch leads to the old Madre of the historic Levada da Serra do Faial.

End

Old Madre of the historic Levada da Serra do Faial in the Ribeira Seca, N 32°45.500 W 16°55.200 ca. 1020 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Feeder to the Faja da Nogueira power station via Levada da Serra do Faial, section 1 and Levada da Serra do Faial, section 2

Access

Section 1:

• North-western exit of the Pico Ruivo tunnel, reached via

  • Levada do Caldeirao do Inferno

  • Levada do Caldeirao Verde superior.

  • Levada do Caldeirao Verde inferior

• Via Levada da Serra do Faial, section 1

Condition

A long, gently winding tunnel, with a geocache in the middle. The problem here is the trolley rails, or rather the sleepers one can trip over.

Year built

1970, in connection with the extension of Levada da Serra do Faial, section 1 and the building of the Faja da Nogueira power station