Today the levadas not only supply water to the southern parts of the island , but provide hydro-electric power . There are over of levadas and they provide a network of walking paths . Some provide easy and relaxing walks through the countryside , but others are narrow , crumbling ledges where a slip could result in serious injury or death . Since 2011 , some improvements have been made to these pathways , after the 2010 Madeira floods and mudslides on the Island , to clean and reconstruct some critical parts of the island , including the levadas . Such improvements involved the continuous maintenance of the water streams , cementing the trails , and positioning safety fences on dangerous paths
2010 Madeira floods and mudslides
2010 Madeira floods and mudslides
Madeira