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Niceto

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Niceto
Mouth of the Niceto
Location
CountryItaly
RegionSicily
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationPeloritani Mountains
 • elevation950 m (3,120 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Tyrrhenian Sea
Length21.1 km (13.1 mi)
Basin size
81.73 km2 (31.56 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftPendola, Lauro, della Morte, Cannamaria, Baronello
 • rightCarbonara, Pietra Rossa, Acqua Trezza, Bagheria

Niceto is a watercourse in north‑eastern Sicily[1] with a torrential regime.[2] It rises in the Peloritani Mountains,[1] in the municipality of San Pier Niceto, flowing for 21.1 kilometres (13.1 mi)[3] and eventually emptying into the Tyrrhenian Sea.[2] Its main tributary is the Bagheria torrent.[4]

Etymology

[edit]

The origin of the term Niceto does not have a single interpretation, as no official documents exist on its exact derivation; they were probably lost during the Calabro‑Sicilian earthquake of 1908.[5] Several hypotheses have been advanced over time. According to an ancient tradition, now considered historically unfounded,[6] the term would derive from the Greek nìke, meaning "victory", because of a battle fought near the stream during the Arab invasion of Sicily (827–902 AD) won by the Christian Byzantines over the Saracens.[6] Another tradition holds that it may derive from the name of the hazel,[7] known in the local dialect as nucidda, a plant once widespread throughout the drainage basin.[5] Other scholars have proposed that the name was given in 451 BC by the Sicels in honour of their leader Ducetius of Niceto[7] or that it derives from the ancient hamlet of Nucita.[8]

Course of the torrent

[edit]

The Niceto forms on the northern slopes of the Peloritani Mountains,[1] at 950 metres (3,120 ft) above sea level,[2] from the union of the watercourses draining the slopes between Pizzo Cavallo (1,040 metres (3,410 ft)) and Pizzo Palombara (955 metres (3,133 ft)).[2] In the mountainous portion, the course is characterised by high gradient and sinuosity, flowing through narrow valleys with steep slopes and deep gorges.[9] Proceeding northwards, the gradients decrease considerably and the streambed tends to widen,[9] becoming about 200 metres wide.[10] Upon reaching the eponymous coastal valley, the Niceto flows almost in a straight line and empties into the sea through an estuary. The course, 21.1 kilometres (13.1 mi) long,[3] is divided into four sections that bear the following names:[2]

Altimetric profile of the Niceto torrent
  • Vallone Pavollo: the first portion of the main stem, between the source (950 metres (3,120 ft)) and the junction with the left tributary Vallone Pendola (560 metres (1,840 ft)). The distance covered (1.7 km) and the elevation drop (390 metres) make this the section with the highest average gradient (22.9%).[2]
  • Torrente Pendola: develops after the previous section down to an elevation of 450 metres (1,480 ft), where it flows into the mountainous section of Vallone Chiuppo. With an average gradient of 6.8%, it descends 110 metres over a distance of 1.6 km.[2]
  • Vallone Chiuppo: from the previous point to the confluence from the right of the tributary Vallone Lauro (250 metres (820 ft)). With a height difference of 200 metres and a gradient of 5.4%, it winds for about 3.7 km.[2]
  • Fiumara di Niceto: the final section, between Vallone Lauro and the mouth in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Specifically, one can distinguish a first hilly part, up to the confluence from the right of the Bagheria torrent (40 metres (130 ft)), and a second coastal part, up to the outlet to the sea. Overall, the elevation drop is 200 metres and the distance covered is about 14.1 km, with an average gradient of 1.4%.[2]

The main tributary, on the right bank, is the Bagheria torrent.[4] In addition, the Niceto receives the waters of several smaller streams, among which the following stand out:[4]

Drainage basin of the Niceto torrent

On the left bank:

  • Vallone Pendola
  • Vallone Lauro
  • Vallone della Morte
  • Vallone Cannamaria
  • Vallone Baronello

On the right bank:

  • Vallone Carbonara
  • Vallone Pietra Rossa
  • Vallone Acqua Trezza

Drainage basin

[edit]

The drainage basin of the Niceto, which covers an area of 81.73 km²,[3] borders to the east with the basin of the Saponara torrent and with some smaller basins, to the south‑east with several basins of minor watercourses flowing into the Ionian Sea, to the south with the basin of the Fiumedinisi torrent, also flowing into the Ionian Sea, to the south‑west with the basin of the Floripotema torrent, and finally to the west with that of the Muto torrent.[11][12] The watershed line is represented in the southern part by the Peloritani ridge, and to the east and west by two transverse ridges that descend from the Peloritani divide down to the coastal area.[13] The eastern boundary descends from Puntale Bandiera (1,067 metres (3,501 ft)) to the coastal plain east of Torregrotta; the western boundary descends from Monte Poverello to the coast.[13] The basin has the typical shape of a broad leaf,[1] narrowing like a funnel toward the Tyrrhenian coast.[10] The territory is predominantly mountainous,[14] dissected by the course of the Niceto and its main tributary, the Bagheria, which flow parallel to each other, separated by a median ridge.[10]

The mountainous part, in the south, has a rugged and uneven geomorphology,[14] lithologically dominated by the terrains of the Aspromonte Unit, which occupy 60% of the basin area and consist mainly of micaschists and paragneiss. Also outcropping are conglomerates formed by pebbles of various types of phyllites, overlain by arenaceous formations with local patches of varicoloured clays. These terrains are known as the Capo d'Orlando flysch.[15] In the northern part, consisting of the coastal belt, known as the Niceto valley, and a hilly transitional belt, terrigenous deposits are present, made up of sedimentary rocks formed by arenaceous, sandy and conglomeratic facies dating to the Miocene.[16][17] In particular, the alluvial layer of the flat coastal strip is characterised by mixtures of gravel and pebbles with sandy binding, with interlayers of sandy and clayey silt.[16]

Land use in the drainage basin[18]
Land use %
Rocky uncultivated land 34.3
Degraded woodland 18.5
Olive grove 17.2
Mixed woody agricultural crops 6.2
Conifers 5.9
Mixed woodland 5.9
Pasture 5.1
Citrus grove 2.5
Herbaceous arable land 1.4
Urbanised 1.3
Broadleaved trees 0.8
Mediterranean scrub 0.8
Simple arable land 0.1

In this portion of the basin, the anthropisation of the territory is notable, caused both by the rapid expansion of the town of Torregrotta[19] and by intensive agricultural activity,[19] consisting mainly of horticultural crops, such as potato.[20] Also widely present in the basin are citrus groves, concentrated mainly in the coastal valley and in the valley floor areas,[20] and olive groves, which constitute the most evenly distributed cropping system.[20]

In the coastal valley, orchards of Sbergia peach[21] are widespread, a particular variety of smooth‑skinned peach[21] "whose organoleptic peculiarities are not found in productions from other localities".[22] In the middle hilly sector, from about 500m in elevation, pasture areas and Mediterranean scrub predominate, consisting mainly of Erica arborea, hairy spartium and Cytisus villosus.[20] Beyond these areas, mixed woodlands, sometimes degraded, of pines and oaks, and conifer forests are found. In the mountainous portion, at higher elevations, the soil is rocky and uncultivated due to the steepness of the surface.[20]

From an administrative point of view, the basin affects the territory of seven municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Messina:[23] Gualtieri Sicaminò, Monforte San Giorgio, Roccavaldina, Rometta, San Pier Niceto, Santa Lucia del Mela and Torregrotta. Within it is also included a part of the Fiumedinisi and Monte Scuderi Nature Reserve, which occupies about 24.7% of the basin.[23] The reserve was established by the Sicilian Region in 1998.[24]

Sub‑basins

[edit]

The only sub‑basin is the basin of the Bagheria torrent, which has an area of about 29 km² (roughly one‑third of the entire basin).[4] The Bagheria rises near Pizzo Sambuco, at 1,075 metres (3,527 ft),[4] and its course is divided into two sections bearing the following names:[4]

  • Vallone Figarazza, from the source to Piano Solimo
  • Fiumara Bagheria, up to the confluence with the Niceto torrent.

The main tributaries are:[4]

On the left bank:

  • Vallone Figazza
  • Vallone Quadro
  • Vallone Cerabianca
  • Vallone Brimondi
  • Vallone Sapienza

On the right bank:

  • Vallone Cuppi
  • Vallone Bafi
  • Vallone Pizzitolo
  • Torrente Oreto
  • Torrente Cannitello (rises on the slopes of Roccavaldina)
  • Torrente Sottocatena
  • Rio Granatara

Hydrology

[edit]

The Niceto has a very irregular hydrological regime and is essentially torrential in type, typical of fiumare,[2] with floods in winter and low‑water or dry periods in summer.[2] The permanence and persistence of the watercourse are intermittent[25] because the water supply is strictly linked to the distribution of precipitation.[2]

Flora and fauna

[edit]
Oleander shrub

Owing to the varied conformation of the terrain along the Niceto's course, the vegetation system is diverse and varied,[26] as well as very lush in the mountainous part, and sparser in the last kilometres of the course.[26] The typical vegetation of the riparian zone consists of reeds, black poplars and willows, together with brooms, ferns, heather and oleanders.[26] These indigenous species are undergoing a degradation process that progressively reduces their presence in favour of alien species.[26] This is largely due to the high degree of anthropisation of the environment,[19] particularly in the coastal area. The intermittency of the watercourse[2] means that the Niceto lacks fish fauna. In the past, however, the eel was present in the torrent's waters, as handed down by oral testimonies of popular culture that recall the eels of the Niceto river (nghidde du ciumi i Nucidda).[27] The local population used them both for food and to maintain the healthiness of the water in the cisterns, where the eels survived by feeding on larvae, worms and insects.[27] This is why today the eel holds a role of peculiar interest for scholars, not only from a naturalistic point of view but, above all, ethno‑anthropologically.[27] It is not ruled out that this fish may still be present today in the waters of the canals ("saie", in the local dialect) near the Niceto, where research is underway.[27]

Viaduct of the SS 113 over the Niceto

Bridges over the Niceto

[edit]

There are four bridges crossing the Niceto:[28]

  • Bridge of the A20 motorway. Built from 1969 onwards together with the Villafranca Tirrena–Milazzo section of the A20. It was opened to traffic on 4 December 1973.[29]
  • Bridge of the Palermo–Messina railway line. Opened to rail traffic on 9 August 2009.[30]
  • Bridge of the Strada statale 113 Settentrionale Sicula (SS 113). Built in masonry, it has 12 arches and is the oldest bridge currently on the Niceto.[28] Until 8 August 2009[30] it was also crossed by the old railway line.
  • Bridge of the A.S.I. road axis (Milazzo–Torregrotta).[31]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 AA. VV. 2004, p. 11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 AA. VV. 2004, p. 18.
  3. 1 2 3 AA. VV. 2004, p. 4.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AA. VV. 2004, p. 19.
  5. 1 2 Comune di San Pier Niceto n.d.
  6. 1 2 Micale 2011, p. 15.
  7. 1 2 D'Amico 1920, p. 50.
  8. ↑ Micale 2011, p. 17.
  9. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, pp. 15–16.
  10. 1 2 3 AA. VV. 2004, p. 17.
  11. ↑ AA. VV. 2004, pp. 11–12.
  12. ↑ Pinizzotto 2005, p. 15.
  13. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, p. 12.
  14. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, p. 16.
  15. ↑ AA. VV. 2004, pp. 28–29.
  16. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, pp. 30–32.
  17. ↑ Guadagnino 2011, p. 153.
  18. ↑ AA. VV. 2004, p. 21.
  19. 1 2 3 Mazzeo 2012, p. 89.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 AA. VV. 2004, p. 20.
  21. 1 2 Crisafulli n.d., Flora.
  22. ↑ Maimone 1993, p. 47.
  23. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, p. 13.
  24. ↑ Regione Siciliana 1998.
  25. ↑ AA. VV. 2010, p. 2.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Guadagnino 2011, p. 154.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Crisafulli n.d., Fauna.
  28. 1 2 AA. VV. 2004, pp. 103–108.
  29. ↑ "Motorways in Italy". lotsberg.net. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  30. 1 2 Antonino Stramandino (8 August 2009). "Da stanotte Rfi utilizzerà la nuova linea con il doppio binario. Dismessa la storica linea ferrata" [From tonight Rfi will use the new double‑track line. The historic railway line decommissioned]. Omniapress. Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  31. ↑ "Milazzo, largo ai furbetti dell'asse viario" [Milazzo, free rein to the road axis cheaters]. Oggi Milazzo. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2026.

Bibliography

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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Niceto&oldid=1366983817"