List of rivers of Italy facts for kids

Location of some among the main Italian rivers

Italy is a country shaped like a boot, surrounded by the sea on three sides. Because of its shape and mountains, Italy has many rivers! These rivers flow into different seas around the country.

Italian rivers are usually shorter than rivers in other parts of Europe. This is because the Apennine Mountains run right through the middle of Italy. These mountains divide the land, making rivers flow in two main directions. The longest river in Italy is the Po River. It flows for about 652 kilometers (405 miles) across a wide, flat area called the Po Valley.

Italy has about 1,200 rivers in total. Many of them have their own separate mouths where they meet the sea. This happens because Italy gets a lot of rain. Also, the tall Alpine Mountains in the north have lots of snow and glaciers. The Apennine Mountains in the center and south also play a big role. All this water needs somewhere to go!

What Makes Italian Rivers Special?

Flamingos in the delta of the Po River

Italian rivers have different features depending on where they are in the country.

Alpine Rivers: From Mountains to Lakes

The biggest and widest rivers in Italy come from the Alpine region. This is because the mountains are very high, and the Po Valley is very deep. These rivers get their water from melting glaciers and snow. They can flood in spring and summer when it gets warm and the ice melts fast.

Many lakes in the Alpine valleys help these rivers. The lakes slow down the fast-flowing water and make it clearer. Rivers coming from steep mountains move very quickly. They can carry a lot of rocks and dirt. When they reach a lake, the water slows down, and the rocks and dirt settle at the bottom.

Apennine Rivers: Rain and Springs

Rivers in the Apennine Mountains are different. They often flood suddenly in spring and autumn when it rains a lot. During summer, these rivers can become very low on water. This is especially true in the southern Apennines.

However, some Apennine rivers, like the Aterno-Pescara or Sele, always have water. This is because they are fed by large underground springs. These springs come from areas with special rocks that let water flow through them easily. The Apennine Mountains do not have many glaciers.

Rivers of Sicily and Sardinia: Mostly Torrents

The rivers on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia are mostly "torrential." This means they are full of water in winter when it rains. But in summer, they can become almost completely dry. A few rivers, like the Tirso and Flumendosa in Sardinia, or the Simeto in Sicily, are exceptions. They have water all year round.

Longest Rivers in Italy

Here are some of the longest rivers in Italy. They are all over 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) long.

Rivers of Italy over 150 km in length
Number	River Name	Length	Regions It Crosses	Type
1º	Po	652 km (405 miles)	Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto	Alpine
2º	Adige	410 km (255 miles)	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto	Alpine
3º	Tiber	405 km (252 miles)	Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio	Apennine
4º	Adda	313 km (194 miles)	Lombardy	Alpine
5º	Oglio	280 km (174 miles)	Lombardy	Alpine
6º	Tanaro	276 km (171 miles)	Piedmont, Liguria	Alpine
7º	Ticino	248 km (154 miles)	Switzerland, Piedmont, Lombardy	Alpine
8º	Arno	241 km (150 miles)	Tuscany	Apennine
9º	Piave	231 km (144 miles)	Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto	Alpine
10º	Reno	212 km (132 miles)	Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna	Apennine
11º	Sarca-Mincio	203 km (126 miles)	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto, Lombardy	Alpine
12º	Volturno	175 km (109 miles)	Molise, Campania	Apennine
13º	Brenta	174 km (108 miles)	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Veneto	Alpine
14º	Secchia	172 km (107 miles)	Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy	Apennine
15º	Tagliamento	170 km (106 miles)	Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto	Alpine
16º	Dora Baltea	168 km (104 miles)	Aosta Valley, Piedmont	Alpine
17º	Ombrone	160 km (99 miles)	Tuscany	Apennine
18º	Chiese	160 km (99 miles)	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Lombardy	Alpine
19º	Liri-Garigliano	158 km (98 miles)	Abruzzo, Lazio, Campania	Apennine
20º	Bormida	153 km (95 miles)	Liguria, Piedmont	Alpine
21º	Aterno-Pescara	152 km (94 miles)	Abruzzo	Apennine
22º	Tirso	152 km (94 miles)	Sardinia	Sardinian

Rivers Flowing into Different Seas

Italian rivers flow into many different seas. Some even flow into seas far away from Italy!

Rivers Flowing to the North Sea

Acqua Granda (or Spöl)

A few rivers in northern Italy eventually reach the North Sea. For example, the Reno di Lei flows for a short distance in Italy. Then it goes into Switzerland and eventually joins the Rhine River, which flows into the North Sea.

Rivers Flowing to the Black Sea

Some Italian rivers also contribute to the Black Sea. The Drava river starts in Italy and then flows through several other countries before joining the Danube River. The Danube then empties into the Black Sea. Another example is the Acqua Granda, which flows into Switzerland and then into the Inn River, which also joins the Danube.