Levada do Rei: water abundance

This recording captures a moment I stoped on a walking along a "levada," a traditional water channel originally built to transport water from the north of the island. These networks of aqueducts stretch across many kilometres and are accompanied by narrow walking paths, open to the public and popular among tourists.

It runs through a high-altitude area characterised by lush greenery and dense forest. 

The soundscape is dominated by the birds, wind, and the abundance of water—whether gently flowing through the channels or rushing in small streams.
In this recording, alongside the sound of rain, you can hear the levada flowing to the right and a river farther below, creating a gentle, droning ambiance. Subtly in the background, the distant voices of other walkers.

My brother was eager to share this levada walk with his girlfriend, and I decided to join them with the hope of capturing both the natural soundscape and the human presence.

UNESCO listing: Laurisilva of Madeira

Recorded by Tiago Tobias.

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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.

Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage