Figarella

The Figarella is a small coastal river in the northwest of the department of Haute-Corse, Corsica, France.

Figarella
RD 51 bridge over the Figarella at Moncale
Location
Country	France
Region	Corsica
Department	Haute-Corse
Physical characteristics
Mouth	Mediterranean Sea
• coordinates	42.5581°N 8.7872°E / 42.5581; 8.7872

Course

The Figarella is 24.16 kilometres (15.01 mi) long. It crosses the communes of Calenzana, Calvi and Moncale. The river rises as the Ruisseau de Spasimata in the commune of Calenzana to the northeast of the 2,085 metres (6,841 ft) Punta Mazagnu in the Monte Cinto massif and flows northwest. The Figarella proper forms when the Spasimata is joined by the Rau de Melaghia from the north. It turns to the north and flows between the villages of Suare and Tarazone, then along the east side of the Calvi – Sainte-Catherine Airport. It is joined by the Ronca river from the left just north of the airport, then by the Campu Longu stream from the right before entering the sea just west of Camp Raffalli.

Human impacts

In the late 19th century the decline in agriculture led to croplands and pasture being replaced by wild undergrowth and woods, which reduced the amount of erosion and run-off. This in turn led to less sediment being carried to the mouth of the river. In the 1970s in-channel gravel mining began in the river, and about 600,000 cubic metres (21,000,000 cu ft) of gravel were removed. The gravel pit traps sediment, and has caused braided channels to be replaced by a single channel. Most of the former channels are now vegetated. Downstream, the result has been erosion of the beach, which started in the 19th century and is likely to continue for several decades, destroying a tourist attraction.

Hydrology

The Figarella was measured at Calenzana between 1960 and 1976. At this point it captures a watershed of 33.8 square kilometres (13.1 sq mi). The maximum instantaneous flow rate was 43.5 cubic metres per second (1,540 cu ft/s) on 24 September 1974.

Tributaries

The following streams (ruisseaux) are tributaries of the Figarella (ordered by length) and sub-tributaries:

• Campu Longu 10 km (6.2 mi)
  • Novalella 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Ronca (river) 9 km (5.6 mi)
  • Enferata 7 km (4.3 mi)
    • Campu d'Ava 3 km (1.9 mi)
    • Vespaiu 2 km (1.2 mi)
      • Capu Pianu 2 km (1.2 mi)
    • Signoria 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Lioli 8 km (5.0 mi)
  • Acqua Viva 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Campanella 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Falcunaghia 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Melaghia 5 km (3.1 mi)
  • Mandriaccia 3 km (1.9 mi)
• Onda 5 km (3.1 mi)
• Curzulosu 4 km (2.5 mi)
  • Sambucu 3 km (1.9 mi)
    • Arghioa 3 km (1.9 mi)
    • Catarelle 1 km (0.62 mi)
  • Vivariu 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Frassigna 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Vespaghiu 2 km (1.2 mi)
  • Melaghiola 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Nocaghia 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Terribule 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Pelliciani 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Vignali 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Meta di Filu 3 km (1.9 mi)
  • Pittinaghia 1 km (0.62 mi)
• Purcareccia 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Ladroncellu 2 km (1.2 mi)
• Valle d'Alloru 2 km (1.2 mi)

Sources

• Gaillot, S.; Piégay, H. (Summer 1999), "Impact of Gravel-Mining on Stream Channel and Coastal Sediment Supply: Example of the Calvi Bay in Corsica (France)", Journal of Coastal Research, 15 (3), Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc.: 774–788, retrieved 2022-01-12
• "La Figarella à Calenzana", eaufrance (in French), Ministère de l'Ecologie, du Développement Durable et de l'Energie, retrieved 2021-12-20
• "La Figarella", Sandre (in French), retrieved 2021-12-20
• "Relation: La Figarella (8479277)", OpenStreetMap, retrieved 2021-12-20