The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ;
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') 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 Northern
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 ...
, the second largest river in
South Tyrol
it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol
, settlement_type = Autonomous province
, image_skyline =
, image_alt ...
. Its source is near the
Brenner Pass
The Brenner Pass (german: link=no, Brennerpass , shortly ; it, Passo del Brennero ) is a mountain pass through the Alps which forms the border between Italy and Austria. It is one of the principal passes of the Eastern Alpine range and has ...
, at an altitude of about 1990 m above
sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardised g ...
. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the
Adige
The Adige (; german: Etsch ; vec, Àdexe ; rm, Adisch ; lld, Adesc; la, Athesis; grc, Ἄθεσις, Áthesis, or , ''Átagis'') is the second-longest river in Italy, after the Po. It rises near the Reschen Pass in the Vinschgau in the pro ...
river south of
Bolzano
Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third la ...
. At first the river flows through the
Wipptal
The Wipp Valley (german: Wipptal) is an Alpine valley in Tyrol, Austria and in South Tyrol, Italy, running between Innsbruck and Franzensfeste. The Brenner Pass (1,374 m) at the Austro-Italian border divides it into the northern, Austrian Lower ...
and after the village of
Vahrn
Vahrn (; it, Varna ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of the city of Bolzano.
Geography
Vahrn borders the following municipalities: Brixen, Klausen, Franzensfeste, Natz-Schabs, Sarntal ...
through the
Eisacktal
Eisack Valley ( it, Valle Isarco ; german: Eisacktal) is a district ( it, comprensorio; german: Bezirksgemeinschaft) in South Tyrol, Italy. It comprises the middle part of the valley of the Eisack, from Franzensfeste in the north to Waidbruck in t ...
. Its source is sung of in the ''
Bozner Bergsteigerlied
The Bozner Bergsteigerlied ( en, Bozen mountaineer song) is one of the two unofficial hymns of the South Tyroleans, the other being the '' Andreas-Hofer-Lied''. Its lyrics were composed in 1926 by Karl Felderer in Moos am Ritten to the melody o ...
'' as the northern frontier of the South Tyrolean homeland.
The major towns and villages along the course of the river are
Sterzing
Sterzing (; it, Vipiteno ) is a comune in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.
History
Origin
The town traces its roots to 14 B.C., when Nero Claudius ...
,
Franzensfeste
Franzensfeste (; it, Fortezza ) is a ''comune'' in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is named after the large Franzensfeste Fortress erected from 1833 to 1838 and Franzensfeste station is also known as an important railway hub.
Geography
Fra ...
,
Brixen
Brixen (, ; it, Bressanone ; lld, Porsenù or ) is a town in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano.
Geography
First mentioned in 901, Brixen is the third largest city and oldest town in the province, and the artistic an ...
,
Klausen,
Waidbruck
Waidbruck (; it, Ponte Gardena ; Ladin: ''Pruca'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of Bolzano.
Geography
As of November 30, 2010, it had a population of 192 and an area of .All demographic ...
and finally the capital city of the province. In
Brixen
Brixen (, ; it, Bressanone ; lld, Porsenù or ) is a town in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano.
Geography
First mentioned in 901, Brixen is the third largest city and oldest town in the province, and the artistic an ...
it merges with the
Rienz. Several smaller creeks are tributaries, including the
Ridnauner Bach
The Ridnauner Bach or Mareiter Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack in Sterzing
Sterzing (; it, Vipiteno ) is a comune in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack R ...
, the
Pflerscher Bach
The Pflerscher Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, 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 territ ...
, the
Pfitscher Bach
The Pfitscher Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack in Sterzing
Sterzing (; it, Vipiteno ) is a comune in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through ...
, the
Villnößer Bach
The Villnößer Bach ( it, Rio Funes) is a stream located in South Tyrol, Italy. It rises from the Geislerspitze mountain range, flows through the Villnößtal, ending after about to the left downstream of Feldthurns in the Eisack river. Main ...
, the
Derjon, the
Braibach
The Braibach or Tierser Bach (also Breibach, Breienbach, Braienbach) is a stream in South Tyrol, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the ...
(also known as Tierser Bach), the
Eggentaler Bach
The Eggentaler Bach is a stream in South Tyrol, 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 territ ...
and the
Talfer
The Talfer (; it, Talvera) is a river located in South Tyrol, Italy. It flows into the Eisack in Bolzano
Bolzano ( or ; german: Bozen, (formerly ); bar, Bozn; lld, Balsan or ) is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol in norther ...
flowing from
Sarntal
Sarntal (; it, Sarentino ) is a valley and a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about north of the city of Bolzano. The municipality comprises several towns and villages. The largest one, seat of the mayor and co ...
.
The Eisack is used extensively for the production of electricity; it is dammed near
Franzensfeste
Franzensfeste (; it, Fortezza ) is a ''comune'' in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is named after the large Franzensfeste Fortress erected from 1833 to 1838 and Franzensfeste station is also known as an important railway hub.
Geography
Fra ...
,
Klausen and
Waidbruck
Waidbruck (; it, Ponte Gardena ; Ladin: ''Pruca'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about northeast of Bolzano.
Geography
As of November 30, 2010, it had a population of 192 and an area of .All demographic ...
.
External links
Eisack Water quality report
Rivers of South Tyrol
Rivers of Italy
{{Italy-river-stub