The Cruzzini (; or ''Cruzini''; co, Cruzinu) is a river in the center of the department of
Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. It is a tributary of the river
Liamone
Liamone was a department of the French island of Corsica between 1793 and 1811. It was located in the southern and western parts of the island, and its capital was Ajaccio.
Liamone was created in 1793 by the division of the former department o ...
.
The valley is isolated, heavily wooded, and surrounded by high and steep mountains.
There is little tourism, and the population is poorer and older than in the island as a whole.
Course
The Cruzzini is long.
It crosses the communes of
Azzana,
Lopigna,
Pastricciola,
Rezza,
Rosazia
Rosazia (; co, Rusazia) is a Communes of France, commune in the Corse-du-Sud Departments of France, department of France on the island of Corsica.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department
References
Communes ...
and
Salice.
It rises in the commune of Pastricciola on the border with the department of
Haute-Corse
Haute-Corse (; co, Corsica suprana , or ; en, Upper Corsica) is (as of 2022) an administrative department of France, consisting of the northern part of the island of Corsica. The corresponding departmental territorial collectivity merged wi ...
to the south of the Punta all'Altore.
It flows in a generally west of southwest direction to its confluence with the Liamone.
In its upper section it flows past the villages of Chiusa, Pastricciola, Rezza and Azzana, and is followed by the D104 or D4 road on its right (north) bank.
Lower down it is followed by the D125 road and passes the village of Lopigna on its left (south) bank.
Legend
There is a legend that three brothers, Liamone,
Golo and
Tavignano
The Tavignano (; co, Tavignanu) is a river on the island of Corsica, France.
Course
The Tavignano is long.
In antiquity the river was known as the ''Rhotanus'' or Ῥότανος.
It crosses the communes of Aléria, Altiani, Antisanti, Casamac ...
, suffered from the cold in the mountains of the central chain of Corsica.
One day they swore to warm themselves by throwing themselves into the sea.
Golo and Tavignano reached the sea quickly.
Liamone, slowed by the granite rocks, struggled.
The Devil came to his rescue when he swore to give him a soul each year.
Every year the Liamone or one of its tributaries, the Catena, the
Fiume Grosso
The Guagno (french: Rivière de Guagno, Fiume Grosso) is a river in the north of the department of Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. It is a tributary of the river Liamone.
Course
The Guagno is long.
It crosses the communes of Guagno, Letia, Murz ...
or the Cruzini, paid this tribute.
The legend explains the capricious flow of this river and its tributaries, sometimes slow but often impetuous.
Valley
The Cruzini, the upper Liamone and the Sorru in su flow through a region known as the "Deux Sorru" in the
Liamone landscape
The Liamone landscape (french: Ensemble Liamone) is an area of Corsica defined under the European Landscape Convention, which promotes the protection, management and planning of the landscapes and organizes international co-operation on landscape ...
.
The region does not see many tourists, although the river has several good places for swimming.
The high and steep valley walls and the omnipresent forest contribute to a sense of isolation.
The population is elderly, with more than 10% over 75 years of age.
As of 2018 one person in five lived below the poverty level and had difficulty accessing health care.
The valley is covered by a dense
Maquis shrubland
220px, Low maquis in Corsica
220px, High ''macchia'' in Sardinia
( , , ) or ( , ; often in Italian; hr, makija; ; ) is a shrubland biome in the Mediterranean region, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs.
Maquis is char ...
except in the immediate vicinity of the villages, which are surrounded by terraced gardens and a few olive or chestnut groves.
The riparian zone holds alders and willows.
The upper Cruzini valley is predominantly wooded with
Laricio pine
''Pinus nigra'', the Austrian pine or black pine, is a moderately variable species of pine, occurring across Southern Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to the eastern Mediterranean, on the Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, Corsica and Cyprus, as wel ...
, and is encircled by peaks of the
Monte d'Oro
Monte d'Oro is a mountain in the department of Haute-Corse on the island of Corsica, France, one of the highest on the island.
It is in the south of the Monte Rotondo massif, but is sometimes considered the summit of its own massif, the Monte d'Or ...
massif exceeding in height, including Punta di Pinzi Corbini, Punta Muratellu and Punta Migliarello.
There are no roads above Chiusa, but the munipalities have developed themed trails and stopover lodges in an effort to attract hikers.
In its upper reaches the crest that separates the valley of the Cruzini from that of the
Fiume Grossu to the north has been designated a
(ZNIEFF).
It ranges in elevation from and covers .
The Punta Muzzella is the highest peak.
The area is used for extensive livestock farming, which maintains open areas and contributes to biodiversity.
There is logging activity in the territorial forest of Libiu and the communal forest of Pastricciola.
Tributaries
The following streams (''ruisseaux'') are tributaries of the Cruzini (ordered by length) and sub-tributaries:
* Viglianese:
** Scarpentate:
* Tavola:
** Ponticchiu:
** San Marginu:
* Lagniato:
* Mitili:
* Melu:
** Crocce:
* Fonda:
** Purcareccia:
* Chiavatone:
* Castagnetta:
* Tartavellu:
** Fontanelle:
** Cocciolu:
* Campotellu:
* Azzana:
* Capannella:
** Casaroggia:
** Umbutone:
* Carga:
* Umbriccia:
** Canale:
* Tassu:
* Canale:
* Cava:
* Chiovone:
* Confortu:
* Erbaju:
* Cadetta:
* Niellone:
* Favale:
* Erbajolu:
* Pisale:
Notes
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruzzini
Rivers of Corse-du-Sud
Rivers of France