Etsch

Etsch, known in Italian as Adige, is a major river in northern Italy. It is the second-longest river in the country, with a length of about 410 kilometers. Its drainage basin covers roughly 12,000 square kilometers and extends from the Alpine region of South Tyrol through Trentino and into the Veneto region.

Its source is in the Alps at the Reschen Pass near the border with Austria. The river generally runs southward, crossing the Vinschgau valley and passing Merano and Bolzano, then continuing through the Trentino region where it passes Trento and Rovereto, and finally through the Veneto plain past Verona before emptying into the Adriatic Sea between Chioggia and Rosolina.

Hydrology and use: The upper reaches are fed by snowmelt and, in places, glaciers, while the lower course is heavily regulated by dams and irrigation systems. The Adige supports hydroelectric production and extensive irrigation in the Adige Valley, a major agricultural area known for fruits, grapes, and other crops. The river is also an important source of municipal water and plays a role in regional flood management.

Name and language: In German the river is called Etsch, while in Italian it is Adige. The region it traverses includes bilingual communities in South Tyrol, where both names are used. The Adige/Etsch has shaped settlement, agriculture, and transportation in northern Italy for centuries.