Fiumara (body of water)
Fiumara ( Italian , plural Fiumare ) is a term used in Italy to designate a certain type of watercourse that occurs particularly in southern Italy and Sicily .
The name is derived from fiume " river ". Like rivers, Fiumars can also form valleys cut deep into a mountain range . In contrast to a river, however, a Fiumara is not fed by a spring, but only drains surface water (rain or melt water). In the low precipitation period (in southern Italy in summer) the Fiumare therefore often dry out completely, while in the rainy season (in southern Italy in winter) they can turn into raging waters.
The longest Fiumare are in the Aspromonte in Calabria and in the Monti Peloritani and the Monti Nebrodi in eastern Sicily . For example, the Fiumara Amendolea in Aspromonte, which begins at 1805 m above sea level and flows into the Ionian Sea , has a length of around 68 km and a catchment area of around 150 km².
Other languages
Temporary rivers that only lead to snowmelt or water in rainy seasons occur in all regions with Mediterranean and other arid climates . In Greece they are called Chimarros (χειμάρρος). In Andalusia they are called Ramblas (from the Arabic رملة [ramla], 'sand pit').