This Morning at 7 am in the Vibo Marina near Tropea
The faint sound of rain dropping on our deck woke us up this morning. Was it really raining? A quick look out of our bulls eye confirmed what we heard. A big black cloud towered over the hills behind the harbour and emptied its content on the boats . What an amazing sight. Rain in Calabria during summer time is extremely rare. In July and August it rain fall amounts to 1/3 of an inch which is 1 centimeter. It is difficult to get wet here in summer.
The climate actually became drier over the last 100 years. Today, annual rainfall amounts to 986 mm/year. A century earlier, the level was at 1’400 mm per year. Just as comparison, England receives on average 1’250 mm a year. It is thus no surprise that the hills of Calabria are so green and that the Greek loved it here when they arrived more than 3’000 years ago. The climate is far more humid than bone dry Sicily.
The yearly precipitation is concentrated and falls in a few days during winter though which increases the risk of flush floods and soil erosion. On the western side of Calabria, the distribution of daily rainfalls is more homogenous than on the eastern part where three quarters of annual rain falls in one quarter of the rainy days. The consequence are fast flowing rivers and large riverbeds in the valleys – clearly visible on satellite photos. Water management is thus key for succeeding in agriculture.
Satellite Photo of the Southern Part of Calabria - the white, dry Riverbeds clearly visible
Most tourists who come to the long beaches in eastern Calabria are probably unaware that the beaches are a function of this peculiar weather pattern. Strong, highly concentrated rain falls not only accelerate erosion, but they also lead to fast flowing rivers with considerable power. In these wild rivers, the stones get grinded to pebbles and sand. When they arrive at the river mouth, they are swept east by the ocean current and form the long sandy beaches – and also the hidden sand banks below water which we will have to watch out for.
Most Beaches are made of Sand but there are a few made from small Pebble Stones
Another consequence is the rapid sedimentation of the coastal plains. On Calabria’s eastern coast, the once mighty towns of Magna Graecia have all disappeared with the exception of Crotone which is built on a rock. Thurii, Hannibal's winter quarter, is now partially excavated. It is a good 1.5 kilometres inland. Without management of the flush floods, the Greek towns simply disappeared into the soil that was deposited by the powerful mountain rivers.
The excavated town of Sibari - the Sister Town of younger Thurii
There are two more banks of rain forecasted for today. One at 10 am and the other at 2 pm. They are part of the big storm system that crossed northern Europe two days ago and flooded so many areas. But we only face the faint tentacles of this system. By tonight, rain will be over and we will enjoy the same weather as during the previous days. We will be looking for the disappeared towns of Magna Graecia in perfect weather!
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