Basilicata / Orography

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11/11/2020

On 11/11/2020

Borders: Basilicata borders on Puglia to the north and east; to the south with Calabria; to the west with Campania. Also in the south-east it is bathed by the Ionian Sea and in the south-west by the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Surface: 9,995 km²

Plains: they occupy 8% of the regional territory. The Piana di Metaponto on the Ionian coast is the largest plain.

Hills: They occupy 45% of the regional territory and are of clayey type, subject to erosion phenomena.

Mountains: they occupy 47% of the regional territory.
The Lucanian Apennines include, among the major reliefs, the Pollino Massif (Serra Dolcedorme 2,267 m.), The Sirino Massif (Mont Papa 2,005 m.), Mont Alpi (1,900 m.), Mont Raparo (1,764 m. .).), the Maddalena Mountains (Mont Volturino, 1,835 m.), Mont Buitre (non-active volcano – 1326 m.).

Coasts: they extend for short stretches on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas.
The Ionian coast extends for 40 km. It is low, rich in medium-fine sands and dunes; inland, for about 800 km², the extremely fertile alluvial plain of Metaponto extends.
The Tyrrhenian Coast (Gulf of Policastro) is 30 km long. It is full of beaches hidden by spectacular rocky ridges. Famous is the coast of Maratea, considered the pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Rivers: The Bradano, Basento, Cavone, Agri and Sinni rivers are the most important, with a torrential regime with dry summer periods. All are rich in small tributaries, cross the Piana di Metaponto and flow into the Ionian Sea.

Lakes: Not very extensive, but numerous. Many are inserted in protected areas of naturalistic interest. Several are artificial reservoirs obtained with dams on rivers or streams. The most important lakes are:

Monticchio lakes (656 m.), Two lakes of volcanic origin formed in the craters of the Vulture (1326 m.), Extinct volcano of the southern Apennines. The Piccolo Lake is a Regional Reserve.
Laudemio Lake or Remmo Lake (1525 m.), Of glacial formation, Protected Natural Area. It is located on the slopes of Mount Papa in the Sirino Massif.
Sirino Lake (788 m.), A small natural basin located in a karst sinkhole on Mount Sirino.
S. Giuliano lake, artificial reservoir on the Bradano river near Matera, regional wildlife reserve. The ravine downstream of the lake is part of the Murgia Materana Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pertusillo Lake, an artificial reservoir on the Agri river.
Pantano del Pignola lake, reclaimed marshy area, regional wildlife reserve.
Lake Camastra, artificial reservoir obtained by damming the Camastra stream, a tributary of the Basento river.
Lake Rendina, artificial reservoir with a dam on the Olivento stream.
Duglia Lake (1367 m.) Is a small natural basin in the Pollino National Park.
La Rotonda Lake (914 m.), A karst lake at the foot of Monte Serra Rotonda (1285 m.) In the Sirino Massif.
Lake of Cogliandrino (672 m.), With a dam on the Sinni river at the confluence of the Cogliandrino stream, is used for the production of electricity.