Asco (river)

The Asco (Ascu) is a small river in the department of Haute-Corse, Corsica, France. It is a tributary of the Golo. The river rises in the Monte Cinto massif among some of the highest mountains of Corsica, passes a ski resort and the old village of Asco and cuts through a dramatic 4 km gorge before joining the Golo.

Course
The Asco is 34.01 km long. It crosses the communes of Asco, Canavaggia, Moltifao and Morosaglia. It rises at an elevation of 2130 m. The source is to the southeast of the 2706 m Monte Cinto.

The Asco flows northwest, then north past the Haut-Asco resort, then runs northeast to the village of Asco, east-northeast to the south of the village of Molifao, then east to a point just north of Ponte Leccia, where it joins the Golo. Its mouth is at an elevation of 184 m.

The Tartagine river joins the Asco about 2 km above the confluence of the Asco with the Golo. The D147 follows the river from Haut-Asco to Moltifao, then the D47 follows it to Ponte Leccia. The D147 is a narrow, steep and winding but well-built road.

Lower valley and gorge
From the start of the D147 by Moltifao, the village of Asco is about 12 km upstream. The Asco gorge is a defile almost 4 km long cut through red granite below Asco village. It runs through a rugged landscape of steep cliffs and granite rocks. In it the river has carved out large natural pools. There is little vegetation apart from some juniper and a few pines growing on the steep rick faces. The gorge draws many tourists in the summer months, attracted by its rugged topography and wild animals.

Village and Genoese bridge


Asco village is at an elevation of 650 m. The village is surrounded by junipers, and clings to the mountainside. The road to this village was first opened in 1936. Today many of the old houses have been renovated. The village has a war memorial and the parish church of Archangel Saint Michael, with stone walls and a bell tower. The church was built in the 11th century, and is classified.

The nearby Genoese bridge was built in the 15th century when Corsica was occupied by the Republic of Genoa. It is below Asco village at an altitude of 535 m on a winding secondary road that ends at the bridge. There is a natural swimming pool below the bridge, with cool water around 15 C in summer.

Upper valley
Above Asco, the road continues for 14 km, passes through the Asco communal forest and ends at Haut-Asco, a small ski resort at an altitude of 1450 m. The resort opens when there is enough snow, and has two fairly easy 600 m ski slopes and two 100 m beginner slopes. There is an eco-museum at Haut-Asco. The GR20 (Grande Randonnée 20) hiking trail passes through Haut-Asco. It is a 180 km trail that crosses the high mountain range of Corsica.

The upper Asco valley has an alpine climate and alpine landscapes. The Stagnu plateau holding the ski resort is surrounded by a crest with some of the highest peaks in Corsica, including Capu Biancu: 2,562 m, Capu au Verdatu: 2,583 m, Punta Selolla: 2,592 m, Capu Ciuntrone: 2,656 m, Monte Cinto: 2,706 m, Pointe des Éboulis: 2,607 m, Punta Crucetta: 2,499 m, Capu Larghia: 2,503 m, Punta Minuta: 2,556 m, Punta Rossa: 2,247 m, Punta Missoghiu: 2,201 m.

Hydrology
Measurements of the river flow were taken at the Morosaglia [Ponte-Leccia] station from 1959 to 2021. The watershed above this station covers 365 km2. Annual precipitation was calculated as 440 mm. The average flow of water throughout the year was 5.08 m3/s.

Tributaries
The following streams (ruisseaux) are tributaries of the Asco:


 * Tartagine: 30 km
 * Pinara: 7 km
 * Stretta Grossa: 2 km
 * Ombrone: 2 km
 * Negretto: 7 km
 * Logoniello: 6 km
 * Valle Largi Tasso: 1 km
 * la Tassineta: 5 km
 * Vitucciaghiu: 2 km
 * l'Ondella: 2 km
 * la Morazzani: 1 km
 * la Filettella: 1 km
 * Valle Secche: 4 km
 * Peduli: 1 km
 * Volpaia: 1 km
 * Manica: 4 km
 * Ghieriosa: 2 km
 * Grotta: 4 km
 * Ranza: 4 km
 * Tidigliani: 4 km
 * Casafrancione: 2 km
 * Casanovaccia: 3 km
 * Santonaccio: 2 km
 * Ventosi: 3 km
 * Tula: 2 km
 * Muro: 3 km
 * Castagnaccio: 2 km
 * l'Aiale: 3 km
 * l'Ondella: 3 km
 * Ridondello: 3 km
 * Pianelli: 2 km
 * Stretta a Merla: 2 km
 * Finusellu: 2 km
 * Gradelle: 2 km
 * Conche: 2 km
 * Corbica: 2 km
 * Valentinu: 2 km
 * Paterna: 2 km
 * Perelli: 2 km
 * Parci: 1 km
 * Pedirasino: 1 km
 * Mutola: 1 km