On the forest trails of Madeira, roots don’t just break through the surface — they become the path itself. They braid through stone, cross the trail, and vanish back into the undergrowth, as though the path simply continues somewhere deep in the thicket.
Many such trails run alongside the levadas — old irrigation channels that have carried water across the island for nearly six hundred years. They were carved into the mountainsides through dense forest, and the narrow tracks beside them once served only for upkeep. Today, they are popular hiking routes, trodden by thousands each year.
But the forest does its work regardless. Roots heave the soil upward. Leaves blanket them each autumn. And the steady passage of feet tamps it all back down into a single surface.
At some point, you can no longer say who made the road first — people or trees.
@alexanderfluke's pictures
for the Photo Quest contest by @qurator
all shots are taken with a phone — no DSLR here
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2 comments
Great job finishing the daily Ecency leaderboard quest, @alexanderfluke! Your evocative description beautifully captures the enchanting, tangled spirit of Madeira’s ancient trails.
Tipped with Ecency POINTS.
Those roots look like vines that mark the paths. The fallen leaves make the landscape look absolutely beautiful. Best regards.