| Type: | municipality |
| Ribeira Brava | |
| Flag Border: | no |
| Region: | Madeira |
| Island: | Madeira |
| Parishes: | 4 |
| Coordinates: | 32.6833°N -20°W |
| Leader Name: | Ricardo Nascimento |
| Established Date: | Settlement: c.1500 Municipality: 6 May 1914 |
| Area Total Km2: | 65.41 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 13375 |
| Postal Code: | 9350 |
| Area Code: | (+351) 291 XXX-XXXX |
| Patron: | São Bento |
| Holiday: | 29 June |
| Website: | http://www.cm-ribeirabrava.pt |
Ribeira Brava (pronounced as /pt/;) is a municipality on the island of Madeira, in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira. It is located along the southern coast (approximately centre), and is west of Câmara de Lobos and the regional capital Funchal, south of São Vicente, and east of Ponta do Sol. The population in 2011 was 13,375,[1] in an area of 65.41 km2.[2]
The municipality gained its name due to its river, which translates as "angry river". In rainy seasons, the river had an extremely strong and powerful current, that often wreaked havoc over the entire eight kilometres of the route.
The municipality's namesake, the Ribeira Brava ravine and river valley extends from the slopes of the west-central mountainsof Madeira. Its waters provide the primary sources of drinking-water (a small reservoir collects surface run-off) to the area andelectricity to the island of Madeira. Approximately ten tributaries feed this river, whose course ends in the Serra de Água andwhich much later empties into the Atlantic along the village's coast.
The primary urban agglomerations are the five civil parishes, constituted with their own local government. They include:
The Centro Desportivo da Madeira stadium is located in the municipality.