Roya (river)

The Roya (French, [ʁwaja]), Roia (Italian), or Ròia (Brigasc, Occitan) is a river of France and Italy, discharging into the Ligurian Sea. It is 59 km (37 mi) long, of which 40.1 km (24.9 mi) in France.^[1] Its drainage basin is about 660 km² (250 sq mi), of which 601 km² (232 sq mi) in France.^[2]

The Italian city of Ventimiglia on the French border and its river, the Roya

Roya Roia, Roja
The river at Ventimiglia
Location
Countries	France and Italy
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Colle di Tenda near Tende, France.
• elevation	1,908 m (6,260 ft)
Mouth
• location	Ligurian Sea at Ventimiglia, Italy
• coordinates	43°47′17″N 7°36′22″E
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	59 km (37 mi)
Basin size	660 km2 (250 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	15 m3/s (530 cu ft/s)

River course

The river rises in French territory near the Col de Tende and flows through the Mercantour National Park. The river passes through the communes of Tende, Saorge, Breil-sur-Roya, La Brigue, before entering Italy in the commune of Olivetta San Michele. The remainder of its course remains within the province of Imperia and, after crossing Airole the river enters the sea at Ventimiglia.^[3]

Its main tributaries are the Lévensa, the Bévéra, the Bendola, the Réfréi and the Maglia.