"Levada" is a Portuguese word derived from the word "levar" -
which means to carry and is roughly translated as "carriageway",
but more correctly defined as mini-canal. The mini-canals are
irrigation systems developed to distribute water from the
rainfall heavy and wet regions on the north of Madeira island to
the drier sun parched regions of the south. The water is usually
stored in reservoirs or tanks, or captured directly from natural
fountains to be redirected and channeled across a wide network
of winding canals. These narrow water carriageways deliver
precious water along far distances to banana plantations,
vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, as well as to
hydro-electric power stations dotted around the island. The
levadas criss cross the mountains and cover a total distance of
2500 km, and date back to as far as the early 16th century. The
Levada "Walks" are walking trails along the maintenance paths
beside the Levadas. Although the Levadas were constructed
primarily for agricultural/indu