Tagliamento River
Encyclopedia
The Tagliamento is a braided river
in north-east Italy, flowing from the Alps
to the Adriatic Sea
at a point between Trieste
and Venice
. The source is in the Mauria Pass, on the border between the regions of Veneto
and Friuli-Venezia Giulia
. In the upper section, it flows through the historic Carnia
region, in the northern part of the province of Udine
. In the middle and lower sections, it first sets the boundary between the provinces of Udine
and Pordenone
and later between the former and the Province of Venice
. Finally, it flows into the Gulf of Venice
between Lignano Sabbiadoro
and Bibione
.
The watershed covers an area of 2,916 km² with a population of approximately 165,000. The watershed lies almost entirely in Carnia
and the other mountain valleys of Friuli. 86.5% of the watershed is in the Province of Udine
.
The main towns along its banks are Latisana
and San Michele al Tagliamento
. In the vicinity of the river are the following towns: Tolmezzo
, Gemona del Friuli
, San Daniele del Friuli
, Spilimbergo
, Casarsa della Delizia
, Codroipo
, San Vito al Tagliamento
, Pinzano al Tagliamento
.
region (Lorenzago di Cadore) in the Province of Belluno
near the border with the Province of Udine
, north-west of Forni di Sopra
close to the Passo della Mauria
.
Initially, the river's course is in a west to east direction, parallel to the Carnic Alps
range.
The first tributary of note is the Lumiei, which enters the Tagliamento from the left at a distance of 26 km from the source.
The river passes through Pinzano
and courses in a southward direction, while spreading across the plain reaching a width of three kilometers near Spilimbergo
and splitting into a number of branches. Its gravelly bed is very permeable, and it absorbs almost all its waters, but the river recovers most of the flow downstream of Codroipo
and Casarsa
, thanks to abundant flows from underground rivers.
From here onwards, the river bed distinctly narrows (180 m in width) and starts to meander because of the reduced slope.
Before ending its course, the river receives the waters of a small underground river, the Varmo. Finally, the river flows into the Adriatic Sea
between the Lagoons of Marano
and Caorle
.
name Tagliamento, the river is known by different names in other languages of the region. The Friulan official name for the river is Tiliment; other local variants include Taiament, Tilimint, Tiument, Timent, and Tuement. In Venetian
, the river is known as Tajamento, in Slovene, Tilment, and in Latin
, Tiliaventum or Taliamentum. It was known as Dülmende in German
during the Middle Ages.
Braided river
A braided river is one of a number of channel types and has a channel that consists of a network of small channels separated by small and often temporary islands called braid bars or, in British usage, aits or eyots. Braided streams occur in rivers with high slope and/or large sediment load...
in north-east Italy, flowing from the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
to the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
at a point between Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
and Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. The source is in the Mauria Pass, on the border between the regions of Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
and Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Friuli–Venezia Giulia is one of the twenty regions of Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The capital is Trieste. It has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. A natural opening to the sea for many Central European countries, the region is...
. In the upper section, it flows through the historic Carnia
Carnia
Carnia is a historical-geographic region of Friuli, whose municipalities all belong to the province of Udine, which is part of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.It covers the western and central part of the mountainous region of the Province of Udine...
region, in the northern part of the province of Udine
Province of Udine
The Province of Udine is a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Udine....
. In the middle and lower sections, it first sets the boundary between the provinces of Udine
Udine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
and Pordenone
Pordenone
Pordenone is a comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.The name comes from the Latin "Portus Naonis" meaning the port on the river Noncello - History :...
and later between the former and the Province of Venice
Province of Venice
The Province of Venice is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Venice.It has an area of 2,467 km², and a total population of 829,418 . There are 44 comuni in the province . As of 2005, the main comuni by population are:-External links:* * : photos of...
. Finally, it flows into the Gulf of Venice
Gulf of Venice
The Gulf of Venice is a gulf that borders modern day Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, and is at the far north of the Adriatic Sea between the delta of the Po river in northern Italy and the Istria peninsula in Croatia.- Geography :...
between Lignano Sabbiadoro
Lignano Sabbiadoro
Lignano Sabbiadoro is a village and comune within the province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region . It is one of the main summer resorts in northern Italy and in the Adriatic Sea coast.-History:...
and Bibione
San Michele al Tagliamento
San Michele al Tagliamento is a town in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SS14 passes through the comune, whose frazione of Bibione is a famous tourist resort.-External links:* portal with all type of info about San Michele al Tagliamento*...
.
The watershed covers an area of 2,916 km² with a population of approximately 165,000. The watershed lies almost entirely in Carnia
Carnia
Carnia is a historical-geographic region of Friuli, whose municipalities all belong to the province of Udine, which is part of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.It covers the western and central part of the mountainous region of the Province of Udine...
and the other mountain valleys of Friuli. 86.5% of the watershed is in the Province of Udine
Province of Udine
The Province of Udine is a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Udine....
.
The main towns along its banks are Latisana
Latisana
Latisana is a town and comune in the province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-eastern Italy, on the Tagliamento river.-History:The city was probably a Roman post station on the Via Annia which connected Concordia to Aquileia....
and San Michele al Tagliamento
San Michele al Tagliamento
San Michele al Tagliamento is a town in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SS14 passes through the comune, whose frazione of Bibione is a famous tourist resort.-External links:* portal with all type of info about San Michele al Tagliamento*...
. In the vicinity of the river are the following towns: Tolmezzo
Tolmezzo
Tolmezzo is a town and comune in the province of Udine, part of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-eastern Italy.-Geography:Tolmezzo is located at the feet of the Strabut Mountain, between the Tagliamento River and the Bût stream. Nearby is the Mount Amariana...
, Gemona del Friuli
Gemona del Friuli
Gemona del Friuli is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km northwest of Trieste and about 25 km northwest of Udine....
, San Daniele del Friuli
San Daniele del Friuli
San Daniele del Friuli is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 80 km northwest of Trieste and about 20 km northwest of Udine....
, Spilimbergo
Spilimbergo
Spilimbergo is a town, with a population of 11,635, located northeast of Venice in the province of Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy...
, Casarsa della Delizia
Casarsa della Delizia
Casarsa della Delizia, simply known as Casarsa, is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 80 km northwest of Trieste and about 15 km east of Pordenone....
, Codroipo
Codroipo
Codroipo is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 70 km northwest of Trieste and about 20 km southwest of Udine.The town was founded in Roman times and named Quadruvium...
, San Vito al Tagliamento
San Vito al Tagliamento
San Vito al Tagliamento is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 80 km northwest of Trieste and about 20 km southeast of Pordenone.-Main sights:...
, Pinzano al Tagliamento
Pinzano al Tagliamento
Pinzano al Tagliamento is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km northwest of Trieste and about 35 km northeast of Pordenone....
.
Course
The source is at an elevation of 1,195 m in the VenetoVeneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region (Lorenzago di Cadore) in the Province of Belluno
Province of Belluno
TheThe Province of Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 214,026 .-Geography:...
near the border with the Province of Udine
Province of Udine
The Province of Udine is a province in the autonomous Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, bordering Austria and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Udine....
, north-west of Forni di Sopra
Forni di Sopra
Forni di Sopra is a town and comune in the province of Udine, in Dolomite Alps mountain range . It is located at the top of the Tagliamento river valley...
close to the Passo della Mauria
Passo della Mauria
The Mauria Pass is a high mountain pass between the regions of Veneto and Friuli in Italy. It connects Lorenzago di Cadore in Veneto and Forni di sopra in Friuli. The pass road, the SS 52, has a maximum grade of 10%. Normally, the pass is open year-round. At the summit, there is a restaurant....
.
Initially, the river's course is in a west to east direction, parallel to the Carnic Alps
Carnic Alps
The Carnic Alps are a range of the Southern Limestone Alps in East Tyrol, Carinthia, South Tyrol and Friuli . They extend from east to west for about between the Gail River, a tributary of the Drava and the Tagliamento, forming the border between Austria and Italy.They are named after the Roman...
range.
The first tributary of note is the Lumiei, which enters the Tagliamento from the left at a distance of 26 km from the source.
The river passes through Pinzano
Pinzano al Tagliamento
Pinzano al Tagliamento is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km northwest of Trieste and about 35 km northeast of Pordenone....
and courses in a southward direction, while spreading across the plain reaching a width of three kilometers near Spilimbergo
Spilimbergo
Spilimbergo is a town, with a population of 11,635, located northeast of Venice in the province of Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy...
and splitting into a number of branches. Its gravelly bed is very permeable, and it absorbs almost all its waters, but the river recovers most of the flow downstream of Codroipo
Codroipo
Codroipo is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 70 km northwest of Trieste and about 20 km southwest of Udine.The town was founded in Roman times and named Quadruvium...
and Casarsa
Casarsa della Delizia
Casarsa della Delizia, simply known as Casarsa, is a comune in the Province of Pordenone in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 80 km northwest of Trieste and about 15 km east of Pordenone....
, thanks to abundant flows from underground rivers.
From here onwards, the river bed distinctly narrows (180 m in width) and starts to meander because of the reduced slope.
Before ending its course, the river receives the waters of a small underground river, the Varmo. Finally, the river flows into the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
between the Lagoons of Marano
Marano
Marano as a surname has noble Italian origin, derives from last name Marani of Vicenza that came to Naples in the 16th century with Francesco Antonio buried in the church of Sant'Antonelli to Caponapoli in the ancient center of Naples city...
and Caorle
Caorle
Caorle is a coastal town in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy, located between the estuaries of the Livenza and Lemene rivers. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea between two other famous touristic towns, Eraclea and Bibione.-History:...
.
Names
In addition to the ItalianItalian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
name Tagliamento, the river is known by different names in other languages of the region. The Friulan official name for the river is Tiliment; other local variants include Taiament, Tilimint, Tiument, Timent, and Tuement. In Venetian
Venetian language
Venetian or Venetan is a Romance language spoken as a native language by over two million people, mostly in the Veneto region of Italy, where of five million inhabitants almost all can understand it. It is sometimes spoken and often well understood outside Veneto, in Trentino, Friuli, Venezia...
, the river is known as Tajamento, in Slovene, Tilment, and in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Tiliaventum or Taliamentum. It was known as Dülmende in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
during the Middle Ages.