Liri

The Liri (Latin Liris, previously, Clanis; Greek: Λεῖρις) is one of the principal rivers of central Italy, flowing into the Tyrrhenian Sea a little below Minturno under the name Garigliano.

The Liri's source is in the Monte Camiciola (1,701 m) in the Monti Simbruini of central Apennines (Abruzzo, comune of Cappadocia): in the nearby is the Lake Fucino, of which it has been sometimes, but erroneously, regarded as a subterranean outlet. It flows at first in a southeasterly direction through a long trough-like valley, parallel to the general direction of the Apennines, until it reaches the city of Sora.

In the upper part of Isola del Liri it receives the waters of Fibreno and then it divides into two branches which then rejoin, surrounding the lower part of the town (Isola del Liri stands for Liri Island). One branch makes a 28 metres high waterfall situated in the centre, a unique case in Europe.

A dam is built on the river after the conjunction with the Sacco River at Ceprano. The last important Liri's tributary is the Melfa, with which it joins near Aquino. After Cassino it receives the waters of the river Gari (or Rapido), and afterwards it is known as Garigliano.

The Liri-Garigliano system has a total water drainage basin of 5,020 km².