Article Levada Hike 25 Fontes

The morning exit to the Encumeada saddle is an opportunity to see the surrounding mountain ridges. From the saddle we continue to the left along the road ER110.

Further bends of the mountain road lead us to a height almost comparable to the neighboring peaks. The steep slopes of the surrounding mountains stand out all the more.

After driving by minibus from the parking lot to the forest administration, we continue on foot. The road is marked and along the levada 25 Fontes is at first quite wide. The surrounding vegetation is especially attractive.

Especially due to the unique laurel forest, Madeira has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List since 1999. The laurel forest is actually a community of about 20 species of woody plants. The path to 25 springs definitely offers a very interesting opportunity for a detailed exploration of this natural attraction.

Occasionally, the dense forest stands out and offers a view of the opposite slope, in which a narrow strip in the stand can be seen, indicating where the levada is hiding.

The path enters a semicircular basin, from which opens a view of the two-stage waterfall Risco.

The landscape is saturated with moisture, there are no shortages of various streams and creeks. These often create other small nameless waterfalls.

The path from the large waterfall continues as a narrow path along the levada and is often muddy and very slippery.

On the left side in the direction of the advance is a deeply cut green valley full of impenetrable vegetation, moisture and haze.

Especially in the rainy season, there is a lot of water in the irrigation canal. The overflowing element makes the path more attractive by frequent wading.

The smaller side valley is overcome by small bridges. Who knows when they were first built, in any case, the builders deserve respect in this inaccessible terrain.

There is the destination of our journey, a lake into which water falls from the surrounding slopes in many springs. I don't know if there are exactly 25 of them, but it's a very beautiful place that is worth visiting despite wet shoes.