Sarca

Sarca
The Sarca River in the Borzago valley (Val Borzago)
  • The Sarca River (78 kilometres (48 mi))
  • Lake Garda (51.5 kilometres (32.0 mi))
  • The Mincio River (75 kilometres (47 mi))
Location
CountryItaly
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationAlpine Adamello-Presanella mountains
MouthLake Garda
 • location
Nago-Torbole
 • coordinates
45°52′22″N 10°51′57″E / 45.8729°N 10.8657°E / 45.8729; 10.8657
Basin features
ProgressionLake GardaMincioPoAdriatic Sea

The Sarca is a river springing from the Adamello-Presanella mountains in the Italian Alps and flowing into Lake Garda at Torbole. As an emissary of the lake it becomes known as the Mincio river, forming a single river system 203 kilometres (126 mi) long (Sarca-Mincio).

With its 78 km (48 mi) length, it is the fifth largest river in Trentino after the Adige, Brenta 174 km (108 mi), Noce 105 km (65 mi) and Avisio 90 km (56 mi), while it is the second largest in terms of flow after Adige.

The river is shallow and fast flowing, passing through the Genova valley (Val di Genova), forming a number of waterfalls, of which Cascina Muta and Saft dei Can are the best known. Before reaching the Rendena Valley (Val Rendena), part of its water is diverted to a hydroelectric powerstation. Then its flow becomes less and less tumultuous. The main places on the river include Carisolo, Pinzolo, Tione di Trento, Le Sarche, Ponte Arche, Ragoli, Dro, Arco & Torbole.