Madeira Islands

: For other uses of the word, see Madeira (disambiguation)

Levadas

The island of Madeira is wet in the northwest but dry in the southeast. In the 16th century the Portuguese started building levadas (aqueducts) to carry water to the agricultural regions. Madeira is very mountainous, and building the levadas was often difficult. Many are cut into the sides of mountains, and it was also necessary to dig 25 miles of tunnels. http://te123st.blogspot.com/2005/07/lavadas-of-madeira.html

Related Topics:
16th century - Aqueduct

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There are now over 1,350 miles of levadas and they provide a remarkable network of walking paths. Some provide easy and relaxing walks through beautiful countryside, but others are narrow, crumbling ledges where a slip could result in serious injury or death. Two of the best to hike are the Levada do Caldeiro Verde and the Caldeirao do Inferno. These are linked and are about 23 miles long in total. Both have long sections which should not be attempted by hikers prone to vertigo; and several tunnels for which torches and helmets are essential.

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The Levada do Canical is a much easier walk. This levada runs 7.1 miles from Marocos to the Canical Tunnel. It is known as the mimosa levada because the trees are found all along the route.

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Sunflower Books 'Landscapes of Madeira' by J & P Underwood is the most widely used guide to the levadas. It provides detailed instructions and excellent maps covering 42 levadas and other walks.

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