Dora Riparia
Encyclopedia
The Dora Riparia is an Italian
river, a left-hand tributary of the Po
. It is 125 km (78 mi) long, with a 1,231 km² drainage basin
. It originates in the Cottian Alps
, close to the Col de Montgenèvre
in France, where it is called the Piccola Dora. Its name becomes the Dora Riparia after the confluence with the Ripa in the Argentera Valley and the Thuras de Bousson close to Cesana.
Further down the valley, in Oulx
, the river grows thanks to its main upper tributary, the Dora di Bardonecchia
, and before Susa
is augmented by the Galambra and Cenischia. After Susa, it only receives minor tributaries: from the left, Gravio by Condove
, Sessi by Caprie
, and Messa by Almese
, from the right Scaglione by Meana
and Gravio by Villarfocchiardo. It runs through the Susa Valley
, and after having crossed part of the plain of the Po and the territories of the comunes of Avigliana
, Alpignano
, Pianezza
and Collegno
, joins the Po at Turin
. It is considered a "stream" (torrente) until Susa, and a river (fiume) to Turin.
It was at the confluence of the Dora Riparia and the Po that present-day Turin was founded in Roman
times. Dora Riparia was there for a long time the main source of energy: already in medieval times its water was collected in canal
s (duriae) that drove mills
, water wheel
s and other contraptions. In the area between the confluence of Dora Riparia and Stura
in the Po, where before the destruction caused by the Battle of Turin
in 1706 one could find the Regio park, lies today the Parco della Colletta.
In the 20th century, industrial
and urban
development significantly degenerated environmental conditions in the river; renovation work did not start until the 1990s. In 1999, the environmental protection agency ARPA
(the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection) conducted a study of the entire Dora Riparia and the river Sangone
, revealing a condition of serious pollution. Then, in 2002, the agro-natural park of Dora Riparia was born, financed by the comune of Collegno
and the region of Po, to preserve the natural habitat, but also to integrate agricultural and river area.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
river, a left-hand tributary of the Po
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
. It is 125 km (78 mi) long, with a 1,231 km² drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. It originates in the Cottian Alps
Cottian Alps
The Cottian Alps are a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps. They form the border between France and Italy...
, close to the Col de Montgenèvre
Col de Montgenèvre
The Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.The pass takes its name from the village Montgenèvre , which lies in the vicinity...
in France, where it is called the Piccola Dora. Its name becomes the Dora Riparia after the confluence with the Ripa in the Argentera Valley and the Thuras de Bousson close to Cesana.
Further down the valley, in Oulx
Oulx
Oulx is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km west of Turin, in the Susa Valley on the border with France.-Names:...
, the river grows thanks to its main upper tributary, the Dora di Bardonecchia
Dora di Bardonecchia
The Dora di Bardonecchia is a short tributary of the Dora Riparia river, lying entirely within the upper Susa Valley. It originates just outside Bardonecchia from the confluence of mountain streams from the valleys of Rochemolles, Frejus, Rho, and Valle Stretta...
, and before Susa
Susa, Italy
Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:...
is augmented by the Galambra and Cenischia. After Susa, it only receives minor tributaries: from the left, Gravio by Condove
Condove
Condove is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located in the Val di Susa about 30 km west of Turin....
, Sessi by Caprie
Caprie
Caprie is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 35 km west of Turin. As of April 2011, it had a population of 1,925 and an area of 16.35 km²....
, and Messa by Almese
Almese
Almese is a comune in the province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located in the lower Val di Susa, about 27 km west of Turin.-External links:*...
, from the right Scaglione by Meana
Meana di Susa
Meana di Susa is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km west of Turin. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 950 and an area of 17.7 km²....
and Gravio by Villarfocchiardo. It runs through the Susa Valley
Susa Valley
The Susa Valley is a valley in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, located between the Graian Alps in the north and the Cottian Alps in the south. It is the longest valley in Italy. It extends over in an east-west direction from the French border to the outskirts of Turin. The valley takes its...
, and after having crossed part of the plain of the Po and the territories of the comunes of Avigliana
Avigliana
Avigliana is a town and comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, with c. 11,000 inhabitants, located about 25 km west of Turin. Avigliana lies in the Susa valley, on the highway going from Turin to Frejus ....
, Alpignano
Alpignano
Alpignano is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 15 km west of Turin on the Dora Riparia in the Val di Susa plain.-External links:*...
, Pianezza
Pianezza
Pianezza is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 12 km northwest of Turin.-External links:*...
and Collegno
Collegno
Collegno is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 9 km west of Turin.-Twin towns — Sister cities:Collegno is twinned with the following cities:-External links:*...
, joins the Po at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
. It is considered a "stream" (torrente) until Susa, and a river (fiume) to Turin.
It was at the confluence of the Dora Riparia and the Po that present-day Turin was founded in Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times. Dora Riparia was there for a long time the main source of energy: already in medieval times its water was collected in canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s (duriae) that drove mills
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
, water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
s and other contraptions. In the area between the confluence of Dora Riparia and Stura
Stura di Lanzo
Stura di Lanzo is a 65 km long river in north-western Italy . It is formed from several tributaries near Lanzo Torinese. It flows into the river Po in Turin.The name Stura has Celtic origin: stur, which means "to fall".-External links:...
in the Po, where before the destruction caused by the Battle of Turin
Battle of Turin
The Siege of Turin was undertaken by the Duke of Orléans and Marshal de la Feuillade between May and September 1706 against the Savoyard city of Turin during the War of the Spanish Succession...
in 1706 one could find the Regio park, lies today the Parco della Colletta.
In the 20th century, industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
and urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
development significantly degenerated environmental conditions in the river; renovation work did not start until the 1990s. In 1999, the environmental protection agency ARPA
Agenzie Regionali per la Protezione Ambientale
The Agenzie Regionali per la Protezione Ambientale are the Italian environmental protection agencies, one for each region of Italy .-Purposes:The agencies are under regional or provincial administration and their main role is the...
(the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection) conducted a study of the entire Dora Riparia and the river Sangone
Sangone (disambiguation)
Sangone may refer to:*Sangone, the name of a turtle of divine origin featuring in Tongan myths*Sangone , a river in Piedmont, Italy*Val Sangone, a valley in Piedmont, Italy...
, revealing a condition of serious pollution. Then, in 2002, the agro-natural park of Dora Riparia was born, financed by the comune of Collegno
Collegno
Collegno is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 9 km west of Turin.-Twin towns — Sister cities:Collegno is twinned with the following cities:-External links:*...
and the region of Po, to preserve the natural habitat, but also to integrate agricultural and river area.