MW Editor English November 4th, 2008

Rabaçal is a 360º of pure nature and amazing scenery where one can only may admire Mother Nature handwork.

The access to this beautiful place starts at the west part of Paul da Serra where you an park your car and follow a narrow road (that is restricted for cars) to the Rabaçal forestry guard’s house. The road goes all the way down and is approximately 2 km. You can go by foot or take a paid ride using a van that is provided by the council of Calheta.

Near the forestry guard’s house you can go straight ahead towards Risco (walking time approx. 10 to 15 minutes) which leads you to a fantastic waterfall surrounded by majestic green mountains.

After this scenery you can go back through the same path, which is parallel to the old Rabaçal levada, that will bring you to the sign indicating 25 fontes. Follow this path down until you find another levada. It will take you the opposite direction of the running water.

The levada path is on a flat terrain, though in some parts it can be narrow. Therefore it is not advisable for persons who are afraid of heights.

After approx. one hour walking you will find a small lagoon, surrounded by vegetation and small water falls from different springs. These are the 25 fountains. You are then a guest at a family gathering of Laurel trees, springs, birds, unspoiled pure air, and other nature’s relatives … all peacefully together at the ecological table as one big happy family.

Please, when visiting remind yourself that you are a guest and respect the environment.

Tags: 25 fountains, levada, madeira, nature, Rabaçal

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MW Editor English October 23rd, 2008

Madeira completely relies on the tourism, however the authorities have gone a step too far and the nature will now be paying its toll for this.

On this beautiful, subtropical and paradise island, we are proud that UNESCO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_heritage), have recognized the Laurisilva Forest (15000ha) as the Worlds Natural Heritage, see: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/934.

Natural heritage is the legacy of natural, not man-made, places, objects and intangible attributes encompassing the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically know as biodiversity.

This unique forest (at Rabaçal) is going to be ravished with concrete, cables and other unnatural materials that will mold into a huge cable car construction!

The authorities have decided to go ahead with this million project and their argument that it will add value (??) to the Flora & Fauna and Natural reservation on Madeira … by building a cable car (??).

As a Nature lover, I do believe that everyone is invited to enjoy the nature environments with its magnificent Flora & Fauna; however I do NOT believe that building a cable car is the way in doing so! With financial support, many walks are now accessible for even the elderly and disabled people. With the facilities that is offered by various organizations, young & old island visitors can enjoy this unique forest with its waterfalls & fountains.

To ensure that my opinion is being heard, I wrote to the UNESCO and asking them their opinion on this matter. Also to know what actions will (can) be taken to avoid that this project will start.

Otherwise if this project takes place, then it will not stop there. Commerce and authorities will consider the following: Now that we have a cable car at Rabaçal, why not also build restaurants, hotels, parking lots, shopping centers etc.

If you are as passionate as I am for the little bit of nature that is left on earth, please consider any kind of action you can take to avoid that this project will gash the heart of the World Heritage Forest.

Photo taken by Markus Rieder

Tags: cabel car, laurisilva, madeira, nature, protest, Rabaçal, UNESCO

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