Edited by:
zolezzi
One of the greatest problems in the history of mankind, in all regions of the world, has always been that of water supply, both for agriculture and for watering livestock and humans.
Alpine and mountainous regions are also no exception, for many valleys are dry and, strangely enough, they often lie next to others that are particularly rich in water.
But man has not stood idly by: he has intervened by building complex systems of irrigation channels that, like the arteries, veins and capillary vessels of a living body, conduct the vital liquid from the source to the fields in the middle and lower valleys.
The canals are often kilometres long, pass through gorges and steep walls, even use tunnels, have bridges and daring artefacts.
This publication, which belongs to the Quaderni di cultura alpina series from Priuli & Verlucca, describes the history, construction technique and maintenance of the Ru, without neglecting to show the hard work of the irrigators - who does not remember the shifts to water freshly mown meadows? Half-moon hoes and pole wipers the farmer's weapons and a lot of...hard work.
Gianni Bodini
Booklets of Alpine Culture
2002
Italian
17.50€
Ru, Bisse, Suonen, Waale... these are not mysterious words from some magic formula, but simply different terms for the same thing in various Alpine regions: the ancient irrigation channels. One of the greatest problems in human history, in all regions of the world, has always been that of water supply, both for agriculture and for watering livestock and humans. Even today, it is still possible to observe working Ru in the Aosta Valley or Bisse in the Valais, still used to distribute water, often only the ancient vestiges ruined by time and rendered useless by neglect. These gullies are also the reason for beautiful hikes, as they are almost always flanked by service paths, which allow wonderful walks, usually flat, within everyone's reach; in the Valais, the Bisse are almost venerated. The alpine and mountainous regions are also no exception. In fact, many valleys are dry and, strangely enough, they often lie next to others that are particularly rich in water. But man has not stood idly by: he has intervened by building complex systems of irrigation canals that, like the arteries, veins and capillary vessels of a living body, conduct the vital liquid from the source to the fields in the middle and lower valleys. These canals are often kilometres long, cross gorges and steep walls, even make use of tunnels, have bridges and daring artefacts. This publication, which belongs to the series Quaderni di cultura alpina, published by Priuli & Verlucca, describes the history, construction techniques and maintenance of the Ru, without neglecting to show the hard work of the irrigators - who does not remember the shifts to water the freshly mown meadows? Half-moon hoes and sprinklers with poles are the farmer's weapons and a lot of... hard work.