Daniel’s Levada Directory
Levada Nova
Also known as Levada dos Cardais (Santa Cruz), Levada Nova do Poiso, Levada Nova de Santa Cruz, Levada Nova de Santo da Serra
Archival documentation — not a current hiking recommendation. Source file on danishome.ch last modified: 21 April 2022
Area
East coast
Length
9,7 km
Year built
1966, after the great plan for new levadas of 1943
Madrei
Ribeira de Santa Cruz N 32°42.850 W 16°49.150 ca. 570 m a.s.l., plus a feeder waterfall from the end of the Levada dos Tornos
Course
East of the Ribeira de Santa Cruz, 100 metres above the Levada do Moinho da Serra. 1st large levada divider with 2 offtakes: an inflow to the Levada do Moinho da Serra and along an old terminal branch of the Levada da Serra.
On to the 2nd large levada divider, with an offtake towards the levada, likewise on an old terminal branch of the Levada da Serra.
North of Achada do Moreno, cuts of varying depth into the valley of the Ribeira do Moreno; here it meets the ER-207, further on through the stream cuts of the valleys of the Ribeiro Seco and the Ribeira do Lugarinho as far as the Capela dos Cardais, then a vertical course along a terminal branch of the old Levada do Juncal to the end in Igreja
End
Igreja ca. 370 m a.s.l.
Function and use
Irrigation of the area above Santa Cruz and Agua do Pena
Access
-
ER-207
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Rua de S. Sebastiao from Santa Cruz to Santo da Serra
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Road from Igreja to the Capela dos Cardais
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Path 300 metres before the end of the Levada dos Tornos South
Condition
Easy; in the valley cut of the Ribeira do Moreno partly narrow and exposed
Historical notes
The levada plan of 1943 originally provided for a Santo da Serra hydroelectric station, to be driven by the water of the Levada dos Tornos and by the water in the Ribeira da Serra da Agua and the Ribeira Primeira. The planned station had a drop of 300 metres to use; the water was then to be caught below the generator house and, together with the remaining water of the Ribeira da Santa Cruz, led into the Levada Nova. The station was not built, and the levada now begins at the inflow of the Ribeira Primeira, where the Camara da Carga of the station was meant to stand.
The terminal branch from the Capela dos Cardais follows the course of the original Levada do Juncal
Remarks
The end of the Levada dos Tornos South and the Madre of the Levada Nova are linked by a path, and both can be reached from above via Quatro Estradas!