Metauro

Metauro
The Metauro in Sant'Angelo in Vado
Country	Italy
Basin features
Main source	near Monte dei Frati in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino 1,400 m (4,600 ft)
River mouth	Adriatic Sea near Fano
Basin size	1,325 km2 (512 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	121 km (75 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 20.8 m3/s (730 cu ft/s)

The Metauro is a river in the Marche region of central Italy. It rises in the Apennine Mountains and runs east for 110 kilometres (68 mi) or 121 kilometres (75 mi) if the Meta is included as its uppermost reach.

The name of the river in Latin is Metaurus or Mataurus. In Ancient Greek, the name of the river is Métauros, which stems simply from the union of the two torrents: Meta, running from the Apennine pass Bocca Trabaria, at an elevation of 1,044 metres (3,425 ft), and Auro, flowing from Monte Maggiore, at an elevation of 1,384 metres (4,541 ft).

The source of the river is located near Monte dei Frati in the border region between the provinces of Pesaro e Urbino, Arezzo and Perugia. It flows east through Pesaro e Urbino near Mercatello sul Metauro, Sant'Angelo in Vado (where the river forms the Cascata del Sasso, "Waterfall of the Stone"), Urbania, Fermignano, Fossombrone (in whose territory it receives the waters of the Candigliano), and, after flowing into a tight valley, the Gola del Furlo, Montemaggiore al Metauro, from which it starts to flow in a plain area. The river flows northeast near Calcinelli, Saltara, Lucrezia, and Cuccurano before flowing into the Adriatic Sea near Fano.

Two battles were fought on the banks of Metauro in ancient times.

Coordinates: 43°50′N 13°03′E / 43.833°N 13.050°E / 43.833; 13.050