Aterno-Pescara

The Aterno-Pescara is a river system in the Abruzzo region of eastern central Italy. It begins high in the Monti della Laga mountains near Montereale and Lago di Campotosto. Near the city of Pescara it meets its main tributary, the Pescara, and takes that name before reaching the Adriatic Sea. The river drains the largest basin of any river flowing into the Adriatic south of the Reno. It winds past towns such as L’Aquila, Sulmona and Popoli on its journey eastwards. The Aterno-Pescara is worth the journey because it links mountain springs to coastal sands in a single flowing line. Its waters have shaped valleys and plateaus over centuries, creating fertile land around Sulmona. Near Popoli the river bends sharply north, then turns east again, showing how the landscape guided its course. The junction with the Pescara tributary near Popoli adds volume and momentum to the flow. The river finally divides the provinces of Pescara and Chieti before entering the sea at Pescara city. A visitor finds a river that changes character along its length. In the mountains it is narrow and fast, fed by clear springs. In the Valle Peligna it widens into a broad plateau where water meadows appear. Near Popoli the river narrows again between steep banks before widening into a broad floodplain. The final stretch forms a natural border between two provinces, ending at the sandy beaches of Pescara. The river’s journey shows how water shapes land from high peaks to the Adriatic shore.