Cervo (river)

Cervo
The old bridge at Piedicavallo in the Valle del Cervo
Cervo location within northern Italy
Country	Italy: provinces of Biella and Vercelli
Basin features
Main source	Lago della Vecchia - Prealpi biellesi (BI) 1,900 m (6,200 ft)
River mouth	River Sesia near Quinto Vercellese (VC) 127.5 m (418 ft)
Basin size	1,024 km2 (395 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Mologna, Chiobbia, Nelva, Strona di Mosso, Ostola, Guarabione, Rovasenda, Marchiazza Right: Irogna, Pragnetta, Oropa, Roggia Drumma, Roggia Ottina, Elvo
Physical characteristics
Length	65 km (40 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: (mouth) 21.9 m3/s (770 cu ft/s)

The Cervo (Piedmontese Sar or Serv) is a 65-kilometre (40 mi) torrent (a form of seasonally intermittent stream) in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy. It is the principal tributary of the river Sesia, which itself is a significant tributary of the Po.

The name Cervo rather than from the Latin cervus (deer) should come from the Germanic saar (stream or river).

It crosses the provinces of Biella (communes of Piedicavallo, Rosazza, Campiglia Cervo, Sagliano Micca, Andorno Micca, Tollegno, Biella, Candelo and Castelletto Cervo) and Vercelli (Quinto Vercellese).

The Cervo’s source is the Lago della Vecchia (close to the Rifugio della Vecchia) in the Biellese Prealps. From the Lago della Vecchia it flows rapidly through a large number of communes of the Valle del Cervo. Close to Tollegno it receives the torrent Oropa from the right then crosses the eastern part of the city of Biella, in particular the quarter of Chiavazza.