Levada do Posto Aquicola do Ribeiro Frio

Madrei

Above the Poiso pass N 32°42.773' W 16°53.825' ca. 1397 m a.s.l.

Course

The water is taken in a tunnel about 30 metres long, which branches again. The tunnel lies almost exactly under the water tunnel of the Levada do Blandy.

The levada runs first in a tree-heath tunnel and has been cut wide and clear. After a relatively steep stretch it reaches the Ribeiro Frio, which it follows until it meets the ER103. Where the track leads to the closed gate, it disappears, piped, into the undergrowth and goes round a small hill between the road and the Ribeiro Frio, then briefly surfaces again in an open basin at the edge of the ER103.

From here it runs piped beside the road to above Ribeiro Frio. Here it turns towards Ribeiro Frio and discharges the water from the hose as a waterfall into the Ribeiro.

Shortly afterwards the water is taken in again at an intermediate Madre and led over the well-known levada steps to the fish ponds at Ribeiro Frio

Along the way, small feeder levadas join the main branch at 11 places, and they carry differing amounts of water.

They are:

• 2 inflows from smaller tunnels, one about 4 metres long, the other about 8 metres

• 3 direct intakes at springs

• 2 intakes by hoses in the Ribeiro Frio (one at the bifurcation)

• 1 intake in a side stream of the Ribeiro Frio

• 1 intake by a Madre in the Ribeiro Frio

• 1 intake by a pipe that I did not follow

• 1 intake that heads towards Ribeiro Frio, but was quite overgrown and also held hardly any water

End

Fish ponds at Ribeiro Frio ca. 900 m a.s.l.

Function and use

Bringing water to the fish ponds at Ribeiro Frio

Access

• The ER103, by the track that leads to the closed gate

• The classic Ribeiro Frio walks to the levada steps and the fish ponds

• A trodden path from the picnic place beside the Levada do Blandy and the road from the Poiso pass to the Areeiro.

Condition

The levada itself is relatively steep, but easy to walk as far as the bifurcation. The descent to the bifurcation is a little slippery and poorly stepped; upwards is easier than downwards! Then comes an exposed passage, very narrow, running about 6 metres sheer above the Ribeiro Frio. Further down there is also a levada bridge that is relatively steep and slippery; here too it is easier going up.

Then a stretch has to be walked in the stream bed; in winter that may be harder than in summer.

Shortly afterwards you reach the path that comes from the Poiso pass and follows the levada as far as the road.

The bypass just before the piping at the road is very dense and hardly worth recommending, especially as the levada is piped here.

Remarks

An absorbing, unspoilt levada, which I would rather recommend walking uphill. Sure footing and a little freedom from vertigo are needed

The bifurcation is a point where, coming from below, you have to choose a side. Both levadas carry roughly the same amount of water. The right-hand levada, though, ends in the stream bed after a short distance and is a feeder levada (no. 8)!