Arno

The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber. The Arno has played a big role in the history and daily life of Italy for many years. It flows through some of Italy’s most famous cities, helping to shape the land and support the people who live nearby.

Source and route

The Arno River begins on Monte Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines. It flows southward at first, then turns west near Arezzo. The river passes through Florence, Empoli, and Pisa before emptying into the Ligurian Sea at Marina di Pisa.

It is the longest river in the area, stretching 241 kilometres (150 miles). The Arno has many smaller rivers that flow into it, such as the Sieve, Bisenzio, and Ombrone Pistoiese. The area drained by the Arno covers more than 8,200 square kilometres (3,200 square miles).

The Arno flows through Florence, where famous bridges like the Ponte Vecchio and the Santa Trinita bridge stand. In the past, the river often flooded the city. One big flood happened on November 4, 1966, which caused a lot of damage to important artworks and books.

Etymology

The name Arno comes from an old Latin word, Arnus, mentioned by Pliny in his book Natural History. Experts think the name is linked to very old European languages and comes from an ancient root meaning "flow" or "move". This name is also similar to another nearby river called the Reno.

Ecology

The Arno river has many animals that are not from that area. Over 90% of the fish and 70% of small water creatures near Florence are from other places. Some of these are the European catfish, channel catfish, Crucian carp, common bleak, topmouth gudgeon, New Zealand mud snail, and killer shrimp. Near Pisa, people have also found the mud crab.

Uses and human impacts

Water from the Arno river is used for drinking, helping plants grow, and fighting fires. People living near the river also enjoy its help with controlling floods, supporting wildlife, fishing, and its importance to culture. However, there is a risk that flooding could damage important places and cause pollution.

Mythology and iconography

The river Arno is shown as a river god. He is often pictured as a man with a beard lying down and holding a container. Water flows from the container to show the river. This way of showing the river started in the Renaissance by changing an old statue.