Levada do Rei, Madeira - a photo on Flickriver

The vast and dense Laurisilva forest that covers about 15000 hectares of the territory (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999) contributes substantially, in addition to rainfall, to retain the humidity contained in the clouds that cover the heart of Madeira for long periods of the year.
By means of condensation, the humidity is deposited on the plants, descends into the subsoil, and from there begins the long path that leads to the formation of the numerous watercourses that flow into the deep valleys of the island.
Over the centuries, natural waterways were channeled along the sides of the mountains for tens and tens of kilometers, for irrigation purposes, for the water supply of coastal cities and for the production of hydroelectric energy: the so-called Levadas are today a great legacy of the past, which in addition to still performing the services for which they were designed, make up an extensive network of well-maintained pedestrian paths, passable by tourists, which enter the most remote areas of the island surrounded by vegetation with colors and smells that are difficult to describe.

The Laurisilva of Madeira, conserves the largest surviving area of primary laurel forest or "laurisilva", a vegetation type that is now confined to the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. These forests display a wealth of ecological niches, intact ecosystem processes, and play a predominant role in maintaining the hydrological balance on the Island of Madeira. The property has great importance for biodiversity conservation with at least 76 vascular plant species endemic to Madeira occurring in the property, together with a high number of endemic invertebrates and two endemic birds including the emblematic Madeiran Laurel Pigeon.

whc.unesco.org/en/list/934/

Taken in: Portugal / Madeira / São Jorge (show map)

Taken on: May 30, 2022

Tags:

Madeira

Island

Ilha

Portogallo

Portugal

Levada

Levada do Rei

Forest

Laurisilva

Europa

Europe

Nikon

D7000

10-24

UNESCO

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Sets appears in: • Madeira • Natura e altro...

Groups appears in: • Colors of the World • Portugal more » • UNESCO World Heritage Sites • Madeira Island - Ilha da Madeira (Portugal) • Travel Photography • Flickr Nature • Nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors • NikonCLUB .it - Gruppo Ufficiale • We travel the World • UNESCO World Heritage Site • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED DX • Beautiful Madeira • NIKON D7000 CLUB • Nikon D7000 • NIKON D7000 CAFE • Nikon D7000 • Tra un Manifesto e Lo Specchio - High quality images • All pictures Nature surrounding (No 30/60 limit) • Momentos para no olvidar • European Heritage Sites • Mirrorless and Reflex Flickr group • A UNESCO SITE • A PLACE TO VISIT. EUROPE « less

Camera: Nikon D7000, f/8.0, 1/25 sec, 16mm (=24mm), ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7000
Lens:	10.0-24.0 mm f/3.5-4.5
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.04 sec (1/25)
Focal Length:	16mm (35mm equivalent: 24mm)
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 22.0 (Windows)
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