Lava (river)


The Lava is a coastal stream in the west of the department of Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France.

Course

The Lava is long.
It flows through the commune of Appietto.
It rises to the west of the Punta Pastinaca and flows west past the village of Appietto to Portu Provenzale.
When it reaches the sea the Lava turns to the north and flows behind the beach for a short distance before turning to the sea.
In winter, the Lava flows into the sea.
In summer it can cut through the beach during heavy rains.
The Köppen climate classification is Csb : Warm-summer Mediterranean climate.

Natura 2000 site

The Golfe de Lava is classified as a Natura 2000 site covering between the Punta Pelusella, a rocky hill, to the north and a low sandy terrace to the south beside the Lava stream.
The site is under high pressure from tourists with motorized vehicles in the summer.
Footbridges and boardwalks have been installed to let the public access the beach all year without disturbing the flow of the stream, the plants and wildlife.
Flora include toadflax, cottonrose, Brompton stock and tamarix.
Fauna include European pond turtle, osprey, European leaf-toed gecko and Hermann's tortoise.
Part of the site, the Dune du Golfe de Lava, has been designated a Zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique.
It covers and is bounded to the north by the mouth of the Lava.
It consists of a secondary coastal dune and the thicket of coastal mastic located behind the beach.
The dune holds sparse vegetation characteristic of this type of environment in the Mediterranean.
The three-horned stock and Linaria flava subsp. sardoa are protected in France.

Tributaries

The following streams are tributaries of the Lava and sub-tributaries:
  • Loriaggiu:
  • *San Gavinu:
  • **Grugnellu:
  • *Muchiesi:
  • *l'Albetronu:
  • **Cavucellu:
  • Verginaccia:
  • Monte Rossu:
  • Forcalu:
  • San Silvestro:
  • Ficarella:
  • Vita:
  • la Scopa:
  • Pedone:
  • Petra Bianca:
  • Sant'Andrea: