Description: So, why go on a levada walk? I found that as beautiful as the island of Madeira is, you can't truly appreciate its beauty until you move into the inland areas where no roads can take you. The views, the sounds, and the atmosphere in general are well worth the effort.
Begun as far back as the 1400's, this system of water irrigation was begun to bring the precious resource of water found in the higher elevations and northern side of the island to the dryer eastern half. Many lives were lost in the construction of the levada system. In some locations, the ditches were literally carved along the sides of mountains. In other locations tunnels were dug through mountains. Should your walk take you to one of the many tunnels, you may find yourself immersed in total darkness for 15 or more minutes (unless you've remembered to bring one of the basic tools for a walk: a flashlight).
There are areas where you may find yourself walking along a path just barely able to accommodate the width of your body.
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