Ofanto

Ofanto
Origin	near Nusco
Mouth	Gulf of Manfredonia
Basin countries	Italy
Length	170 km (110 mi)
Source elevation	715 m (2,346 ft)
Mouth elevation	0
Avg. discharge	15 cubic metres per second (530 cu ft/s)
Basin area	2,780 km2 (1,070 sq mi)

The Ofanto, known in ancient times as Aufidus, is a 170-kilometre (110 mi) river in southern Italy that flows through the regions of Campania, Basilicata, and Apulia, into the Gulf of Manfredonia near Barletta.

Geography

The river's source is on the Irpinia Plateau, at 715 metres (2,346 ft) above sea level, near Nusco in the province of Avellino. From there it runs southeast near Lioni before flowing into Lago di Conza. The river then forms the border between the province of Avellino and the province of Potenza except for a small extension of the province of Avellino near Calitri. The Atella flows into the Ofanto near this point as a right tributary of the river. The river curves north and flows near Monteverde before forming the border between the province of Foggia and the province of Potenza. It then curves east for a distance and a right tributary, the Olivento, flows into it in this area. The river curves northeast and then forms the border between the province of Foggia and the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. The river flows near Posta Piana, Canosa di Puglia, San Ferdinando di Puglia, and Cannae before entering the Gulf of Manfredonia between Margherita di Savoia and Barletta. The Locone enters the Ofanto south of Cerignola as a right tributary of the river. At the end of its journey to the sea, the river ends in a delta and an estuary.

The River Ofanto can have a torrential flow at times, with major floods along its course in the autumn and winter, thanks to heavy rainfall, but in the summer its flow can be remarkably slight. Despite its considerable length and the extent of its basin, the average flow of water at the river mouth is fairly low, less than 15 cubic metres per second (530 cu ft/s).

Gallery

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  Roman bridge of Canosa di Puglia

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  An ancient Roman bridge near Monteverde, Campania

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  Through Cairano

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  Oil painting Lungo l'Ofanto (1870) by Giuseppe de Nittis (1848–1884), Pinacoteca De Nittis, Barletta, Italy

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  Tabula Peutingeriana showing ancient Aufidus and Via Appia