The Irminio is a 55km long river located in south-eastern Sicily

Sicily

Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...

 and is also the most important of the rivers of the province of Ragusa

Province of Ragusa

The Province of Ragusa is a province in the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy, located in the south-east of the island. Its capital is the city of Ragusa, which is the most southerly provincial capital in Italy.-Geography:...

.

The river springs from Monte Lauro

Monte Lauro

Mount Lauro is a mountain reaching 986 metres located in south-eastern Sicily belonging to the chain of Hyblaean Mountains, stretching between three provinces of Catania, Ragusa and Siracusa...

, the main peak of the Hyblaean Mountains

Hyblaean Mountains

The Hyblaean Mountains are a mountain range in south-eastern Sicily, Italy. They are included in the provinces of Ragusa, Syracuse and Catania, and reaches the highest altitude with Monte Lauro, at 986 m.-Geology:...

, which form the main part of the mountainous southeast of Sicily and runs across the province from north-east to south-west before flowing into the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...

 2.5km east of Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa is a village in southern Italy, a frazione of the comune of Ragusa. The site is noted for its beautiful beaches and lively nightlife. Marina di Ragusa is located on the Mediterranean coast of the island of Sicily, directly opposite the island of Malta...

. Its main affluences are the streams Cava Volpe, Ciaramite, Mastratto, and near Ragusa Ibla the streams San Leonardo and Santa Domenica.

Natural Reserves

Half way through its course the river is housing a small area classified as Oasi Irminio for the brown trout

Brown trout

The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....

 and at its mouth the Natural reserve Macchia Foresta del fiume Irminio of 134 hectars.

The Dam

The 10 November of 1976 works started to build a dam

Dam

A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...

 along the river in the area between Ragusa

Ragusa, Italy

Ragusa is a city and comune in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Ragusa, on the island of Sicily, with around 75,000 inhabitants. It is built on a wide limestone hill between two deep valleys, Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica...

 and Giarratana

Giarratana

Giarratana is a town and comune in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, southern Italy....

. The structure, that is 57,10m tall, was completed in 1983 to create the Lago di Santa Rosalia

Lago di Santa Rosalia

Lago di Santa Rosalia is an artificial lake in the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, Italy.-Dam:The lake was created following the completion of building works of a dam 57,10m tall along the higher part of the course of the river Irminio, between the towns of Ragusa and Giarratana. Works started the 10...

, a reservoir for agricoltural use but also used for recreational fishing

Recreational fishing

Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....

.