levada

Levada refers to several uses, most notably as a term for irrigation channels in Madeira and as the name of a prominent Russian polling organization, among others. In Madeira, levadas are an extensive network of stone-lined canals and aqueducts that transport water from the island’s humid, mountainous regions to drier southern valleys for irrigation and hydroelectric power. They originated in the 15th–16th centuries during Portuguese settlement and remain a defining feature of Madeiran scenery. The levadas are often accompanied by footpaths that attract walkers, with routes such as Levada do Caldeirão Verde and Levada dos 25 Fontes being popular examples. Maintenance is typically managed by regional water authorities, and the system supports both agriculture and tourism.

Levada Center is a Russian independent polling and sociological research organization. It conducts public opinion surveys, social studies, and market research in Russia and neighboring regions, and its data are widely used by academics, media, and policymakers. The center is regarded as one of Russia’s leading independent pollsters, though its work has faced scrutiny over methodology and political context. Since its founding by Yuri Levada in the 1990s, the organization has continued under subsequent leadership and remains a major source of opinion data within Russia.

The surname Levada exists in Slavic- and Romance-language contexts and is associated with individuals in various countries. A notable person is Yuri Alexandrovich Levada (1930–2006), a Soviet and Russian sociologist who founded the Levada Center.