Dora Baltea
{{Short description|River in northwestern Italy}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Dora Baltea
| other_name = Doire Baltée
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=frp|name1=Duère Baltèa |tag2=frp|name2=Djouiye |tag3=pms|name3=Deura Bàotia}}
| image = CastelloSarriodDeLaTourJuly312023 04.jpg
| image_caption = The river near Sarriod de la Tour Castle
| source1_location = Entrèves near Courmayeur
| mouth_location = Po near Crescentino
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|45.1804|8.0477|display=it|region:IT_type:river}}
| progression = {{RPo}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Italy
| source1_elevation = {{convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth_elevation =
| discharge1_avg = (mouth) {{convert|96.0|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}{{cite book|last=AA.VV.|title=Piano di Tutela delle Acque - Revisione del 1º luglio 2004; Caratterizzazione bacini Idrografici|url=http://www.regione.piemonte.it/acqua/pianoditutela/allegati_tec/dwd/1/c/1_c-7.pdf|access-date= 2012-06-10|year= 2004|publisher=Regione Piemonte|chapter=Elaborato I.c/7|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225054359/http://www.regione.piemonte.it/acqua/pianoditutela/allegati_tec/dwd/1/c/1_c-7.pdf|archive-date= 2012-02-25}}
| basin_size ={{convert|3890.52|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}
| map = Doire Baltée.png
| map_caption = Dora Baltea location
| tributaries_left = Buthier, Saint-Barthélemy, Marmore, Évançon, Lys
| tributaries_right = Doire de Verney, Savara, Grand'Eyvia, Chalamy, Ayasse, Chiusella
}}
The Dora Baltea ({{IPA|it|ˈdɔːra ˈbaltea|lang}}) or Doire Baltée ({{IPA|fr|dwaʁ balte|lang}}) is a river in the Aosta Valley and in Piedmont, in northwestern Italy. It is a left-hand tributary of the Po and is about {{convert|170|km|mi}} long.
Name
The river's Latin name was Duria maior, Duria Baltica or Duria Bautica.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nEtBAQAAMAAJ&q=bantica+duria&pg=PA791|title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography: Abacaenum-Hytanis|first=William|last=Smith|date=May 3, 1878|publisher=J. Murray|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=duria-geo|title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), DU´RIA|website=Perseus.tufts.edu}}{{cite encyclopedia|title=Dòra Bàltea|url=http://www.sapere.it/enciclopedia/D%C3%B2ra+B%C3%A0ltea.html|website=Sapere.it|language=it}} Strabo called it Δουριας (Dourias) in Greek.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gHtWAAAAcAAJ&q=bantica+duria&pg=PA435|title=Dictionnaire de géographie ancienne et moderne à l'usage du libraire et de l'amateur de livres|date=May 3, 1870|via=Google Books}} The name comes from the Celtic root *dubr- ("flow"), itself from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰew- ("flow"). This root can be found in many European river names, such as Douro.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WUkGAAAAQAAJ&q=bantica+duria&pg=PA505|title=Handbuch Der Alten Geographie|first=Albert|last=Forbiger|date=May 3, 1848|publisher=Mayer und Wigand|via=Google Books}} The second element may derive from the Illyrian root *balta ("‘swamp, marsh, white clay").{{Cite web |url=https://marciorenato.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pokorny-julius-proto-indo-european-etymological-dictionary.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2021-05-03 |archive-date=2020-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209160230/https://marciorenato.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/pokorny-julius-proto-indo-european-etymological-dictionary.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://academiaprisca.org/indoeuropean.html|title=Indo-European Etymological Dictionary|website=Academiaprisca.org|access-date=24 January 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.esparama.lt/es_parama_pletra/failai/ESFproduktai/2014_Foundations_of_Baltic_Languages.pdf|date=2014|title=Foundations of Baltic Languages|author=Pietro U. Dini|website=Esparama.lt|access-date=24 January 2022}}
The river is called {{Lang|frp|Duère Baltèa}} in Arpitan, {{lang|frp|Djouiye}} in Valdôtain,[https://www.patoisvda.org/moteur-de-recherche/Djouiye_46809_4/?sq=1&q=doire&p=1&a=0&lr=0&ct=0&c=0&am=0 Djouiye - Site web du francoprovençal valdôtain.] and {{lang|pms|Deura Bàotia}} in Piedmontese.
Geography
It originates by Mont Blanc as the confluence of the Dora di Ferret, fed by the Pré de Bar Glacier in Val Ferret, and the Dora di Veny, fed by the Miage Glacier and Brenva Glacier in Val Veny.
As it crosses the Aosta Valley, the Dora Baltea flows through the city of Aosta (where the Buthier runs into it) and near all the main cities of the lower Aosta Valley: Châtillon, Saint-Vincent, Verrès and Pont-Saint-Martin. After it enters Piedmont, it passes through the city of Ivrea and a good part of Canavese, gets from its right hand the waters of the Chiusella and reaches the Po at Crescentino, a little downstream from Chivasso.
Water uses
It is a popular place for whitewater rafting and kayaking, with its waters feeding, for instance, the Ivrea Whitewater Stadium. Early in the summer, in May and June, the rivers are usually high with snow melt from the mountains. During July, August and September the water levels are usually lower and the temperature warmer.
See also
- The Dora Riparia is another tributary of the Po.