Isarco River

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Isarco River
The river near the city of Bolzano.
Origin	Brenner Pass
Mouth	Adige
Basin countries	Italy
Length	96 km
Source elevation	1,990 m
Avg. discharge	78 m³/s
Basin area	4,202 km²

The Isarco River^[1] (German: Eisack; Latin: Isarus or Isarcus, Ancient greek: Isarchos, Ισαρχος) is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the Adige river south of Bolzano.

The major towns and villages along the course of the river are Sterzing, Franzensfeste, Brixen, Klausen, Waidbruck and finally the capital city of the province. In Brixen it mergers with the Rienz. Several smaller creeks are tributaries, including the Ridnauner Bach, the Pflerscher Bach, the Pfitscher Bach, the Villnösser Bach, the Grödner Bach, the Braibach (also known as Tierser Bach), the Eggentaler Bach and the Talvera flowing from Sarntal.

The Isarco River is used extensively for the production of electricity; it is dammed near Franzensfeste, Klausen and Waidbruck.