Varaita

The Varaita is a 100 km long river in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. The river rises in the Cozie Alps on the western flank of Monte Viso ( 3841m ), where the Po has his sources. From there he turns his course to the south and flows through the valley named after him Varaita valley to the east.

After about 50 km, the Varaita leaves the mountains and changes its direction to the north. In Casalgrasso, about 30 km south of Turin, it opens the first major right-sided inflow into the Po.

Larger towns along the river are Pontechianale Casteldelfino and Sampeyre in the upper third, Frassino, Melle, Brossasco and Costigliole Saluzzo on the middle reaches, and Lagnasco Scarnafigi and Moretta in the Po Valley.

The catchment area of ​​Varaita bordered to the north by the Po and on the south by the Maira. The three rivers are nearly parallel at a distance of 5-10 km. The flow regime of the Varaita corresponds to a typical Torrente in the Alps: in the spring of the river carries the largest amount of water in the summer months the least amount of water. Typical is also a large bed load. Over the year, the Varaita reached an average discharge of about 15 m³ / s