Levada das 25 Fontes

Both trails are accessed via Regional Road E.R. 110, then descending to the Rabaçal shelter. The trails follow two parallel levadas, located at different elevations. The PR 6.1 trail follows the Levada do Risco, at an altitude of 1,000 m, leading hikers to an impressive waterfall that plunges vertically, carving a groove into the rock. If you descend to the PR 6, you can visit the Lagoa das 25 Fontes, formed by the waters flowing down from Paul da Serra, where you can count more than 25 springs.    At this elevation, the high-altitude heathland (Erica arborea and  Erica scoparia ssp. maderensis) and the mountain blueberry (Vaccinium padifolium) predominate. Also noteworthy is the presence of the rare mountain pittosporum (Pittosporum coriaceum). These species are part of Madeira’s Laurissilva forest, designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.   The two levadas collect water from the tributaries of the Ribeira Grande and feed the Calheta hydroelectric plant, before continuing on to irrigate agricultural fields.