The Viewpoint of Las Madres is situated just 300 metres away from the Historic Town Centre of Villa de Firgas. It serves as a balcony from where visitors can enjoy stunning views over the ravine, which depending on which part it passes through, goes by the names of La Virgen, Las Madres, Guadalupe and Azuaje. It is a truly beautiful spot with lush vegetation and an abundance of little tributaries which provide water supplies for the region’s land.
![Views from the "Mirador Barranco Las Madres" Viewpoint](http://www.grancanaria.com/turismo/fileadmin/user_upload/_imported/IMG_LasMadres2.jpg "Views from the "Mirador Barranco Las Madres" Viewpoint")
From here we can also take in beautiful panoramic views over the Villa de Moya, the mountain of Gáldar, while on clear days we can see the summit of Mount Teide (3.718 mts) as well as parts of the island of Tenerife.
The ravine of Las Madres in Firgas is also known as the Las Mil Fuentes (The Thousand Springs) due to the high number of mountain springs bearing water all around, and is right at the head of the ravine of Azuaje, with its rich vegetation, just perfect for getting up close to nature and taking long walks, thanks to the large number of footpaths that exist in the area.
![Views from the "Mirador Barranco Las Madres" Viewpoint](http://www.grancanaria.com/turismo/fileadmin/user_upload/_imported/IMG_LasMadres.jpg "Views from the "Mirador Barranco Las Madres" Viewpoint")
It is also a breeding area for a species of laurel pigeon (Collumba junoniae) endemic to the extinct laurisilva forest area of Gran Canaria from the early 20th century, within the project framework of LIFE 12/NAT/ES 000354 (LIFE Rabiche).
Down at the bottom, the la Acequia Real or Royal Water Channel runs for some 17 kms, and starts at the ravine of Las Madres, crossing a large part of the municipality of Firgas before ending up at Arucas. It constitutes one of the most important hydraulic heritage sites in Gran Canaria which dates back to the end of the 15th and beginning of the 16th centuries, and is undoubtedly a monument to a lifestyle that has all but disappeared and is long forgotten, but nevertheless forms part of our people’s cultural past.
