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. BZ Hörtmair 1541

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

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

, Klausen and

External links

Eisack Water quality report
Rivers of South Tyrol Rivers of Italy {{Italy-river-stub