Maira
Encyclopedia
The Maira is an Italian
river, a right tributary of the Po River
, which runs through the province of Cuneo
in eastern Piedmont
. Its source is in the Cottian Alps
near the Col de Mary (or Col Maurin) on the French
border. Its name, in the Occitan and Piedmontese languages, means ‘lean’ or ‘meagre’.
During its upper course the river descends rapidly through the scenic Valle Maira, passing through the centres of Acceglio
, Prazzo
, Stroppo
, Macra
, San Damiano Macra
, Cartignano
and Dronero
; at Busca
it leaves the valley and enters the plains, continuing through Villafalletto
and Vottignasco
. It passes just to the left of Savigliano
, while the Grana-Mellea, its main tributary, passes to the right of the town: they continue in parallel before joining near Cavallermaggiore
.
The next town the river meets is Racconigi
, where it follows the edge of the park of the Royal Castle of Racconigi, the celebrated summer residence of the House of Savoy
. Finally the river enters briefly into the territory of the Province of Turin
before joining the Po River
from the right within the municipal bounds of the Commune
of Lombriasco
.
The Maira’s regime is typical of an Alpine torrent: full flowing in the spring, and tending to dry up in the summer months. Over a typical year its mean discharge is equal to 13.5 m²/s.
During Roman times, the river was known as the Macra
.
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 right tributary of the Po River
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...
, which runs through the province of Cuneo
Province of Cuneo
ayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....
in eastern Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
. Its source is 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...
near the Col de Mary (or Col Maurin) on the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
border. Its name, in the Occitan and Piedmontese languages, means ‘lean’ or ‘meagre’.
During its upper course the river descends rapidly through the scenic Valle Maira, passing through the centres of Acceglio
Acceglio
Acceglio is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont. It is located above Prazzo in the upper Valle Maira about 90 km southwest of Turin and about 45 km west of Cuneo, on the border with France...
, Prazzo
Prazzo
Prazzo is comune of the province of Cuneo, in Piemonte, northern Italy.The main village is split in two parts, Prazzo Superiore and Prazzo Inferiore , at about 1 km from each other on the national route 22...
, Stroppo
Stroppo
Stroppo is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km southwest of Turin and about 35 km northwest of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 98 and an area of 28.4 km²....
, Macra
Macra
Macra is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km southwest of Turin and about 35 km northwest of Cuneo....
, San Damiano Macra
San Damiano Macra
San Damiano Macra is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 25 km northwest of Cuneo...
, Cartignano
Cartignano
Cartignano is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 25 km northwest of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 172 and an area of 6.5 km².Cartignano borders the following municipalities:...
and Dronero
Dronero
Dronero is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Cuneo at the entrance of the Valle Maira.-Main sights:...
; at Busca
Busca
Busca is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Cuneo...
it leaves the valley and enters the plains, continuing through Villafalletto
Villafalletto
Villafalletto is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km south of Turin and about 20 km north of Cuneo....
and Vottignasco
Vottignasco
Vottignasco is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km south of Turin and about 20 km north of Cuneo.Vottignasco borders two other municipalities: Savigliano and Villafalletto....
. It passes just to the left of Savigliano
Savigliano
Savigliano is a comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, in the Province of Cuneo, c. 50 kilometers south of Turin by rail....
, while the Grana-Mellea, its main tributary, passes to the right of the town: they continue in parallel before joining near Cavallermaggiore
Cavallermaggiore
Cavallermaggiore is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 40 km south of Turin and about 40 km northeast of Cuneo...
.
The next town the river meets is Racconigi
Racconigi
Racconigi is a town and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is located in the province of Cuneo, south of Turin, and north of Cuneo by rail.The economy is mostly based on agriculture, production of milk and meat, and industrial working of metal sheets....
, where it follows the edge of the park of the Royal Castle of Racconigi, the celebrated summer residence of the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
. Finally the river enters briefly into the territory of the Province of Turin
Province of Turin
The Province of Turin is a province in the Piedmont region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Turin.It has an area of 6,830 km², and a total population of 2,277,686 . There are 315 comuni in the province – the most of any province in Italy...
before joining the Po River
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...
from the right within the municipal bounds of the Commune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Lombriasco
Lombriasco
Lombriasco is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 25 km south of Turin....
.
The Maira’s regime is typical of an Alpine torrent: full flowing in the spring, and tending to dry up in the summer months. Over a typical year its mean discharge is equal to 13.5 m²/s.
During Roman times, the river was known as the Macra
Macra (disambiguation)
Macra may refer to:* Macra, a place in the Province of Cuneo in north-west Italy* Macra na Feirme, an Irish youth organisation* the Latin name for the Magra, a river in Liguria and Tuscany in north-Italy...
.