The Bussento is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
in southwestern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. Originating from
Cervati
Cervati is an Italian mountain of the Province of Salerno, Campania.
Geography
The mountain is located in the north-western side of the municipality of Sanza, close to the forest area of Pruno. It is the source of the river Bussento.
With 1 ...
mountain, it flows in the
Campania
Campania (, also , , , ) is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islands and the i ...
n territory of
Cilento
Cilento is an Italian geographical region of Campania in the central and southern part of the Province of Salerno and an important Tourism, tourist area of southern Italy.
Cilento is known as one of the centers of Mediterranean diet.
Geograph ...
, in the
Province of Salerno
The Province of Salerno ( it, Provincia di Salerno) is a province in the Campania region of Italy.
__TOC__
Geography
The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 131,950; Cava de' Tirreni, Battipagli ...
. Its mouth is by the
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea (; it, Mar Tirreno , french: Mer Tyrrhénienne , sc, Mare Tirrenu, co, Mari Tirrenu, scn, Mari Tirrenu, nap, Mare Tirreno) is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian pe ...
, nearby
Policastro Bussentino
Policastro Bussentino (or simply Policastro) is an Italian town and hamlet (''frazione'') of the municipality of Santa Marina (of which it is its seat) in the province of Salerno, Campania region. It is a former bishopric, now titular see, and ...
.
Geography
After its origin in
Cervati
Cervati is an Italian mountain of the Province of Salerno, Campania.
Geography
The mountain is located in the north-western side of the municipality of Sanza, close to the forest area of Pruno. It is the source of the river Bussento.
With 1 ...
, it flows south of
Sanza, crosses Sant'Eliano, nearby the artificial
Lake Sabetta
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
(fed by the river), and
Caselle in Pittari
Caselle in Pittari is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is l ...
. After Caselle, it
flows under the
Pannello mountain, and emerges in
Morigerati
Morigerati ( Cilentan: ''Murgirati'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy.
History
The village was probably founded by the ancient Italic people of the Morgetes. It was later coloniz ...
, next to its municipal borders with
Tortorella
Tortorella is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Salerno, Campania, in south-western Italy.
Geography
Located in southern Cilento, 11 km far from the Cilentan Coast, Tortorella is a hill town located in the middle of a large forest a ...
. After it, the Bussento marks Morigerati's border with
Santa Marina, flows south of
Sicilì
Sicilì is a southern Italian village and hamlet (''frazione'') of Morigerati, a municipality in the province of Salerno, Campania. As of 2011, it had a population of 364.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1521, however, the origins of ...
, crosses the municipal borders of
Torre Orsaia
Torre Orsaia (Cilentan dialect, Cilentan: ''La Turri'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy.
History
The settlement, originally named ''Turris Ursajae'', was founded in the 11th century ...
until its railway station in Calleo and, after, it flows near the localities of Hangar, Santa Lucia and Crocefisso. Its mouth, on the
Gulf of Policastro
A gulf is a large inlet from the ocean into the landmass, typically with a narrower opening than a bay (geography), bay, but that is not observable in all geographic areas so named. The term gulf was traditionally used for large highly-indented ...
, by the
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea (; it, Mar Tirreno , french: Mer Tyrrhénienne , sc, Mare Tirrenu, co, Mari Tirrenu, scn, Mari Tirrenu, nap, Mare Tirreno) is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian pe ...
, is 700 m west of
Policastro Bussentino
Policastro Bussentino (or simply Policastro) is an Italian town and hamlet (''frazione'') of the municipality of Santa Marina (of which it is its seat) in the province of Salerno, Campania region. It is a former bishopric, now titular see, and ...
, near Torre Oliva, and 2.4 km east of
Scario
Scario is an Italian village and hamlet (''frazione''), the largest of the municipality of San Giovanni a Piro in the province of Salerno, Campania region. In 2011, it had a population of 1,124.
Geography
The village is situated in the western c ...
.
The main tributary of Bussento is the
Bussentino
The Bussento is a river in southwestern Italy. Originating from Cervati mountain, it flows in the Campanian territory of Cilento, in the Province of Salerno. Its mouth is by the Tyrrhenian Sea, nearby Policastro Bussentino.
Geography
After its ...
, a creek that flows through
Casaletto Spartano
Casaletto Spartano is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy.
History
The town has medieval origins and originated around the settlement of ''Spartoso'', from which it derives the toponym, ...
,
Battaglia,
Tortorella
Tortorella is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Salerno, Campania, in south-western Italy.
Geography
Located in southern Cilento, 11 km far from the Cilentan Coast, Tortorella is a hill town located in the middle of a large forest a ...
, and joins the river in Morigerati, near the
Bussento Caves
The Bussento is a river in southwestern Italy. Originating from Cervati mountain, it flows in the Campanian territory of Cilento, in the Province of Salerno. Its mouth is by the Tyrrhenian Sea, nearby Policastro Bussentino.
Geography
After it ...
.
Natural environment
The
Caves of Bussento, located in
Morigerati
Morigerati ( Cilentan: ''Murgirati'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy.
History
The village was probably founded by the ancient Italic people of the Morgetes. It was later coloniz ...
, are a
WWF Oasis. It is a
nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
that includes
gorges and
cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
s along the river.
[WWF Oasis of Bussento on Morigerati website]
/ref>
Gallery
References
External links
{{commons category-inline, Bussento
Rivers of the Province of Salerno
Cilento
Subterranean rivers
Rivers of Italy
Drainage basins of the Tyrrhenian Sea