The Maggia is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in the Swiss

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 canton

Cantons of Switzerland

The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...

 of Ticino

Ticino

Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...

.

The springs are near the Cristallina

Cristallina

The Cristallina is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It is located in the canton of Ticino, south of Bedretto.-External links:* * ] maintained mountain lodge]...

 mountain and the river runs through the Val Sambuco, the Val Lavizzara, and the Valle Maggia

Valle Maggia

Valle Maggia is an alpine valley of the Maggia River in Ticino, the Italian canton of Switzerland.The valley is dotted with small picturesque villages with traditional stone houses, vineyards and dairy farms...

, and enters Lago Maggiore between Ascona

Ascona

Ascona is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.It is located on the shore of Lake Maggiore.The town is a popular tourist destination, and holds a yearly jazz festival, the Ascona Jazz Festival....

 and Locarno

Locarno

Locarno is the capital of the Locarno district, located on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino, close to Ascona at the foot of the Alps. It has a population of about 15,000...

. The village Maggia

Maggia, Ticino

Maggia is a municipality in the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.Maggia's municipal borders were created in 2004 when the previous municipalities of Maggia, Moghegno, Aurigeno, Giumaglio, Someo, and Lodano were united...

 is situated on the river.

The river is used for hydroelectric power production, e.g. with the dams of Lago del Narèt

Lago del Narèt

Lago del Narèt is a lake in Val Sambuco, Ticino, Switzerland. Its surface area is 0.86 km². It is located in the municipality of Lavizzara. The closest locality is Fusio.-External links:*...

 and Lago del Sambuco

Lago del Sambuco

Lago del Sambuco is a reservoir above Fusio, in the municipality of Lavizzara, Ticino, Switzerland. Its surface area is 1.11 km². The dam of Sambuco on the Maggia River was completed in 1956. Its maximum height is 130 m and length 363 m....

 near the sources.

The Maggia river is a popular scuba diving spot due to its crystal clear waters.
The name of the river derives from the name of the village Maggia that, as said before, is situated on the coast of the river.
In the 90s the river had a European record : the river that grow faster in Europe while it rains. This carateristic provoke many tragedy in the past. Breaking a bridge that connect the old Maggia to Aurigeno and Moghegno and killing a lot of people in the 70s.

External links

• Ofima electricity producer