Ribeiras

These natural aqueducts that generally flow in the beds of deep and narrow valleys are quite numerous on this island and have very abundant flows in the winter season. They originate in the central mountain range and flow into the ocean, some of them having subsidiary streams that increase their volume and speed. 'All of them, in the winter,' says the illustrious commentator of the 'Saudades,' 'bring abundant water, often torrential: they then fill up, and sometimes overflow, dragging thousands of tons of more or less large boulders from the mountains, many of them so large that afterwards, they can only be removed in pieces, and all, rolling in the torrent, collide with each other, producing a sinister noise, until, obstructing the beds of the same streams, they make them overhang the marginal lands, and these, when not obstructed, are carried away by the diverted waters to a great distance, out to sea, broken into mud; in the summer, however, the watercourses become scarce, and in some streams they dry up, as a result of the diversions, either for marginal irrigation, or for the 'levadas,' which, taking the running waters there, transport them to fertilize remote crops across the entire surface of the island's coast.' These streams occasionally turn into powerful currents, which, leaving their beds and invading the adjacent banks, violently drag large areas of cultivated land, enclosures, and even houses, causing sometimes considerable personal and material damage to the inhabitants of their vicinity.

The main streams in Madeira are as follows:

• Ribeira de Machico: It originates in Lamaceiros and Portela do Porto da Cruz, and its main tributaries are Ribeira Seca and the streams of Alcanforado, Ermida, Escuro, Cales, and Cova.

• Ribeira de Santa Cruz: It rises in Santo António da Serra and its main tributary is the Ribeira da Serra de Água.

• Ribeira da Boaventura: It originates to the west of the peak of Abóboras and receives the waters of the streams of João Ferino and Eixo. It is located in the municipality of Santa Cruz and is also known by the name of Ribeira de São Pedro.

• Ribeira do Porto Novo: It originates in the Serra do Poiso and peak of Silva, and its tributaries are the Ribeira dos Boieiros and the streams of Pedro Lourenço and Hortas.

• Ribeira da Caniço: It originates in Camacha and its tributary is the stream of Vale Paraíso.

• Ribeira de Gonçalo Aires: It originates in the peak of Infante. It is very scarce in water.

• Ribeira de João Gomes: It originates in the Serra do Poiso and the Ribeira das Cales flows into it. It was also formerly known by the name of Ribeira de Nossa Senhora do Calhau.

• Ribeira de Santa Luzia: It originates in the peaks of Areeiro and Escalvado, and its tributaries are the streams of Cidral, Frades, Pisão, and Til. It is also called Ribeira da Praça.

• Ribeira de S. João: It originates in the peaks of Escalvado and Santo Antonio, and it receives the waters of the streams of Água de Mel and Santana. It was formerly known by the names of Ribeira de Santa Catarina, S. Pedro, Grande, and S. Francisco, and is also known by the names of Ribeira de S. Lazaro and Ribeira de Santo Antonio.

• Ribeira dos Socorridos: It originates in Torrinhas and its main tributaries are the Ribeira de Vasco Gil and the streams of Cidrão, Gato, and Lapa.

• Ribeira do Vigario: It originates in Achada do Poiso and nearby peaks, and the streams of Jardim do Cabral and Frades flow into it. It is also called Ribeira de Câmara de Lôbos.

• Ribeira do Campanário: It originates in the peak of Ferreiros and has a low flow. It is also called Ribeira da Lapa.

• Ribeira Brava: It originates in Cumiada de S. Vicente and its tributaries are the streams of Poço, Pico, Vicente Vaz, and Eira da Moura.

• Ribeira da Tabua: It originates in the peak of Pedras and receives the waters of the stream of Barqueiro.

• Ribeira da Ponta do Sol: It originates in the peak of Fonte do Norte.

• Ribeira da Madalena: It originates near the peak of Urze do Paul and receives the waters of the streams of Pinheiro and Amoreiras.

• Ribeira da Serra de Água da Calheta.

. It has the same origin as the previous one and receives the waters of the streams of Aza, Fragueiro, and Meninas.

Ribeira da Calheta . It originates in Cabeço da Levadinha or Lombo do Salão, and its tributaries are the streams of Cutileiro and Convento.

Ribeira de S. Bartolomeu . It originates in the peaks of Gordo and da Silva, and its main tributary is the stream of Farrobo.

Ribeira Funda . It originates in the peaks of Silva and Relva, and its tributary is the stream of Mendes. It has a low flow.

Ribeira Seca . It originates at the top of Fajã da Ovelha and receives the waters of the streams of Cedros and Meloeira.

Ribeira dos Marinheiros . It originates in the peak of Fonte do Bispo and has a low flow.

Ribeira dos Moinhos . It originates in the peak of Fonte do Barro and, like the four previous ones, has a low flow.

Ribeira da Cruz . It originates in Pico da Pedreira and has a low flow.

Ribeira do Tristão . It has the same origin as the previous one, and its tributaries are the stream of Calvário and the streams of Agriões and Lages.

Ribeira da Janela. It originates in Paul da Serra, Fontes do Rabaçal, and Assobiadouro, and is one of the most extensive and abundant on the island.

Ribeira do Seixal . It originates in the peak of Assobiadouro and receives the waters of the streams of Voltas and Quebradas.

Ribeira de S. Vicente . It originates in the peaks of Ferreiros and Cumeada and receives the waters of Ribeira Grande, stream of Atalho, etc..

Ribeira dos Moinhos . It originates in the Serra da Boaventura and is less extensive than that of Porco.

Ribeira da Boaventura . It originates in Boca das Torrinhas and is one of the most abundant on the island. It is known near the village by the name of Ribeira do Porco.

Ribeira de S. Jorge . It originates in the peak of Canário and receives the waters of the streams of Canário, Grande, and Tombo da Furna.

Ribeira do Faial . It originates in Pico Ruivo and is also known by the name of Ribeira Seca. It receives the waters of the Ribeira da Metade and Ribeiro Frio.

Ribeira do Porto da Cruz. It originates in the peak of Suna and is also called Ribeira da Igreja. It is better to consider the Tem-te-não-caias stream as a continuation of the Ribeira do Porto da Cruz than as its tributary.

In Porto Santo, the noteworthy streams are Ribeira da Vila, the streams of Salgado and Cochino, and the streams of Serra de Dentro and Serra de Fora.