Rizzanese Explained

Rizzanese
Map:File:Rizzanese.png
Pushpin Map:Corsica#France
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:France
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Corsica
Subdivision Type3:Department
Subdivision Name3:Corse-du-Sud
Mouth:Mediterranean Sea

The Rizzanese (French: '''Rivière u Rizzanese''') is a coastal river in the southwest of department of Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. It is dammed near Sorbollano to form the Rizzanese Reservoir, which stores water for irrigation and supplies the largest hydroelectric power plant in Corsica, with installed capacity of 55 MW.It flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the town of Propriano.

Course

The Rizzanese is long,It crosses the communes of Arbellara, Cargiaca, Levie, Loreto-di-Tallano, Olmiccia, Propriano, Quenza, Sartène, Serra-di-Scopamène, Sorbollano, San-Gavino-di-Carbini, Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano, Viggianello, Zonza and Zoza.

The Rizzanese rises in the commune of Zonza south of the Castellucciu and north of the Monte Calva.It flows northwest and then west past the village of Zonza, then flows west, southwest past Zoza and west again to enter the sea in the Golfe du Valinco just north of the Propriano Airport.

Dam

See main article: Rizzanese Reservoir. The river is dammed by the Barrage du Rizzanese to the south of the village of Sorbollano.The dam is owned by Électricité de France (EDF) and impounds of water.A tunnel carries water from the dam to the hydroelectric power station at Sainte Lucie de Tallano in the Levo plain.With installed capacity of 55 MW the power plant delivers almost 40% of the island's hydroelectricity.

Construction began in mid-2008.The tunnel to carry water from the dam to the power station was completed on 15 October 2010.On 21 May 2012 the dam was handed over to EDF to start filling the dam.Impoundment of the Rizzanese reservoir began on 23 May 2012.The first of two turbines was connected to the Corsican electricity network on 21 February 2013.Full commissioning was expected in mid-September 2013.

Hydrology

Measurements of the river flow were taken near its mouth at the Pont de Rena Bianca station in Propriano between 2018 and 2021.The watershed above this point covers .The maximum daily flow was of water, recorded on 24 January 2021.

Measurements of the river flow were taken at the Zoza station from 1966 to 2021.The watershed above this station covers .The maximum daily flow was recorded on 20 December 2016.Average annual precipitation was calculated as .The average flow of water throughout the year was .

Tributaries

The 24km (15miles) Chiuvone river and the 24km (15miles) Fiumicicoli river are tributaries. The following streams (ruisseaux) are also tributaries of the Rizzanese (ordered by length) and sub-tributaries: