Fiumorbo

The Fiumorbo (U Fium'Orbu) is a coastal river in the department of Haute-Corse, Corsica, France. It is dammed in two places to supply irrigation water and hydroelectricity. Between the two dams it runs through the spectacular Défilé de l’Inzecca, a Natura 2000 site.

Course
The Fiumorbo is 45.64 km long. It crosses the communes of Bastelica, Palneca, Ghisonaccia, Ghisoni, Lugo-di-Nazza, Poggio-di-Nazza, Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo and Serra-di-Fiumorbo.

The Fiumorbo rises in the commune of Palneca, Corse-du-sud, to the north of the 1950 m Monte Giovanni. It forms the border between Palneca and Bastelica as it flows north, then northeast, entering the commune of Ghisoni, Haute-Corse. It continues northeast and north through the Forêt de Marmano, then turns east to the hamlet of Sampolo, where it is dammed to form the Réservoir de Sampolo. Below the Barrage de Sampolo it flows east through the Défilé de l'Inzecca down to the coastal plain, where it is dammed by the Barrage de Trevadine. In this section it forms the border between Ghisoni and Lugo-di-Nazza.

Below the Barrage de Trevadine the river continues east to the commune of Ghisonaccia, then turns south, forming the border between Lugo-di-Nazza and Ghisonaccia, then between Poggio-di-Nazza and Ghisonaccia, and then between Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo and Ghisonaccia. It turns to the southeast, passes between the towns of Ghisonaccia and Migliacciaro, enters the sea to the northeast of the Marais de Canna, a wetland. In the Forêt de Marmano the D69 road runs to the west of the river. From Ghisoni down to Ghisonaccia the D344 road runs to the northeast of the river.

Reservoirs
The Lac de Sampolo, or Réservoir de Sampolo, is formed by the Barrage du Sampolo, which dams the Fiumorbo river below the village of Sampolo. The dam was built between 1987 and 1991 and went into service in 1992. The concrete gravity dam is owned by Électricité de France (EDF) and is used for hydroelectricity and irrigation. It is 32.5 m high and 93 m long, with a crest elevation of 378 m above sea level. The dam holds 2,000,000 m3 of water. It has a surface area of 24.5 ha and a catchment area of 128 km2. The dam is checked regularly to confirm safety. Variations in the flow of the river downstream of the dams are controlled.

Below the site is another dam, the Barrage de Trévadine, where the river emerges onto the coastal plain. The Barrage de Trévadine came into service in 1991 and is also owned by EDF. It provides hydroelectricty and irrigation water. It is a concrete gravity dam 17 m high and has a crest length of 145 m. The crest is at an altitude of 153 m. The reservoir covers 5 ha and holds 247000 m3 of water. The catchment area is 135 km2.

Protected areas
Above and below the Sampolo dam the river has cut two series of rocky gorges. A small pool between the two has now been covered by the reservoir. The upper gorge, the Défilé des Strette, is less dramatic than the lower Défilé de l’Inzecca. The northern side of the Défilé de l’Inzecca is a Natura 2000 site. The Inzecca gorge has unique geological and floristic aspects found nowhere else in Corsica or France.

The Forets du Fiumorbu is classified as a Zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique  (ZNIEFF). This area overlooks the eastern coastal plain at Ghisonaccia. It encompasses the Territorial Forest of Fiumorbu, the Territorial Forest of Pietrapiana, the Communal Forest of Poggio di Nazza and the private forests that border the villages of Fiumorbu from San Gavino di Fiumorbu to Lugo di Nazza. Higher up the ZNIEFF is located on the eastern slope of the ridge separating it from the territorial forests of Sant'Antone and Marmano. The ZNIEFF includes the upper and middle watersheds of the Abatesco and some tributaries of the Fium'Orbu river such as the Saltaruccio and Varagno streams. The area is mainly covered with beech forest (Fagus sylvatica), birch groves, fir trees and laricio pines (Pinus nigra laricio) at high altitude. Lower down there are stands of maritime pines (Pinus pinaster) and holm oaks (Quercus ilex).

The coastline and wetlands from the mouth of the Fiumorbo southwest past the mouth of the Abatesco is classified as a ZNIEFF covering 161 ha. The lido (coastal sand dunes) is heavily used by tourists in the summer, particularly near recently built marinas in the northern half.

Hydrology
Average flows have been measured at Ghisoni [Sampolo] between 1960 and 2021. This station is at an elevation of 378 m above sea level. At this point the catchment covers 115 km2. The annual average is 3.730 m3/s. Monthly flows are:

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


 * Varagno: 17 km
 * Agnone: 11 km
 * Debbione: 2 km
 * Carpinetti: 2 km
 * Chizzo: 2 km
 * Nursoli: 6 km
 * Argentuccio: 2 km
 * Pincioni: 2 km
 * Giovanni: 1 km
 * Stazzale: 4 km
 * Alzone: 4 km
 * Conca: 1 km
 * Pettinelli: 2 km
 * Biciancola: 2 km
 * Monte: 1 km
 * Suartello: 1 km
 * Ajola: 1 km
 * Latelli: 1 km
 * Saltaruccio: 15 km
 * Poletrella: 4 km
 * Buoni Pargoli: 4 km
 * Sambuchi: 3 km
 * Ternale: 2 km
 * Caniozzo: 2 km
 * Pane Casciolo: 2 km
 * Salto Leandro: 2 km
 * Nevalpiana: 1 km
 * Ruello: 9 km
 * Galgaccio: 4 km
 * Nebbia: 4 km
 * Tiglio: 3 km
 * Giuncutello: 1 km
 * Susinelle: 3 km
 * Zuccarello: 2 km
 * Regolo: 8 km
 * Alzitone: 3 km
 * Vadina: 3 km
 * Assatojo: 2 km
 * Chigheri: 7 km
 * Giargalozeo: 2 km
 * Scarpaceja: 3 km
 * Rodi Mela: 2 km
 * Pruno: 1 km
 * Serracinella: 6 km
 * Casso: 5 km
 * Tomba: 4 km
 * Forno: 2 km
 * Cannareccia: 5 km
 * Lischetto: 4 km
 * Forno: 4 km
 * Casa Calva: 4 km
 * Petrapola: 4 km
 * Casillilli: 4 km
 * Camelle: 2 km
 * Monte Grosso: 4 km
 * Sampolo: 2 km
 * Giargolo: 3 km
 * Alzitana: 3 km
 * Vaglie: 3 km
 * Alzeta: 3 km
 * Cortina: 2 km
 * Trevadine: 3 km
 * Tavone: 1 km
 * Rosse: 3 km
 * Ariola: 3 km
 * Rivusecco: 3 km
 * Pedivaldo: 3 km
 * Tibiani Bujosa: 3 km
 * Casetta: 2 km
 * Arresto: 2 km
 * Ciuntrone: 2 km
 * Grotta del Prete: 2 km
 * Sampolo: 2 km
 * Guado Alla Macchia: 2 km
 * Olmiccia: 2 km
 * Radicello: 2 km
 * Lattugona: 1 km
 * Tramonte: 2 km
 * Occhio-Griggio: 2 km
 * Capanella: 2 km
 * Paganello: 1 km
 * Finosa: 3 km
 * Puralbello: 1 km
 * Scarrone: 1 km
 * Paglione: 1 km
 * Zoppi: 1 km
 * Roncatojo: 1 km
 * Campo Piano: 2 km