Bormida

The Bormida is a river in northwestern Italy, a left-bank tributary of the Tanaro. It is formed by the confluence of two upper branches, the Bormida di Spigno and the Bormida di Millesimo, and generally flows southeast through the regions of Liguria and Piedmont, passing the spa town of Acqui Terme and the town of Ovada before joining the Tanaro.

The river’s basin covers parts of the Ligurian and Piedmontese provinces, including Savona and Alessandria. The Bormida valley supports agricultural activity and small industry, and is associated with viticulture in the Monferrato area, a notable wine-producing region in Piedmont.

Hydrological and environmental aspects are shaped by human use and climate variability. The Bormida supports irrigation and small-scale hydroelectric installations, while regional water management regulates flows to address droughts, floods, and ecological health. Like many rivers in heavily cultivated basins, it has faced pressures related to water use and pollution, leading to ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts.

Culturally and historically, the Bormida valley has been inhabited since ancient times, with Acqui Terme standing out as a historic spa town linked to the river’s southern banks. The river remains a defining feature of the landscape in its upper and middle reaches, shaping settlement, agriculture, and local identity in the communities it touches.