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the Degree Confluence Project
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Italy : Calabria

2.9 km (1.8 miles) W of Staiti, Reggio di Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Approx. altitude: 820 m (2690 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 38°S 164°W

Accuracy: 69 m (226 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View to the South #3: Viewto the West #4: View to the North #5: View to the East #6: GPS Reading #7: Ground Zero #8: The Confluence Hunter #9: Staiti #10: Wild Pigs Block the Way Ahead #11: Bicycle Parking in 700 m Distance #12: View to the Confluence from 200 m Distance

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  38°N 16°E (visit #2)  

#1: The Confluence from 70 m Distance

(visited by Rainer Mautz)

15-Oct-2022 -- This is the last out of seven reports reaching or attempting confluence points during a one-week bicycle trip in Southern Italy. The story starts from 42°N 15°E and continues from 39°N 17°E.

Only a single visit had been documented so far – 21 years ago! The reason for this is most likely its location far in the south of Italy and secondly its difficulty to be reached as it is located in a remote, mountainous terrain with dense throny vegetation and scarp slopes.

From the beach at Marinella, the straight-line distance is only 9 km. Starting from Locri (40 km distance) in the morning, I reached Marinella around 9 AM. Then I stared climbing up the serpentines of the mountain road towards the mountain village Staiti. The road is now asphalted up to the village at a height between 400m and 600m. The village made a deserted impression to me. It is still populated by mostly elderly people, but only a few houses seem to be inhabited. By the way: the tracks through the village make up a real labyrinth. I ended up carrying my bicycle up the stairs at some point.

Above the village, a gravel track continues ascending. Thereby, wild pigs blocked my way ahead. At a distance of 700 m east of the confluence I made a first attempt on foot. But I soon abandoned it as the scarp slopes became too steep for further advance.

My second attempt started 700 m north of the confluence. I first ascended upwards until I reached another track that follows the ridge. But at a distance of 400 m I had to leave the track again and start cross-country hiking. First, I descended over some meadows with grazing cattle. But soon progress became more and more difficult due to the dense vegetation and the steep incline. My unforgiveable mistake was that I was wearing shorts. As an experienced confluencer I should know better. The problem was the thorny bush, that made further approach almost impossible. However, like in a labyrinth, I walked back and forth while still approaching slowly. After some peaking and poking around, I found a solution to avoid the thorny bushes. However, at a distance of 69 m, I gave up and documented the confluence. With long pants, a zero reading would have been possible.

The way back was very difficult for me, as I had to find the way out of the labyrinth of thorny bushes. As I wrote these lines, you may guess that I made it back to my bicycle – although in principle it would have been possible to submit the report directly on the spot via smartphone.

After the visit, I coasted down all the way back to the coast and surrounded the southern cape. I spend the night in Reggio Calabria and took a train back to Zurich the following day.

CP Visit Details:

  • Distance to a road: 3000 m
  • Distance to a track: 400 m
  • Distance of bicycle parking: 700 m
  • Time to reach the CP from the track: 45 min
  • Time at the CP: 1:28 PM
  • Measured height: 847 m
  • Minimal distance according to GPS: 69 m
  • Position accuracy: 6 m
  • Topography: mountainous
  • Vegetation: various species of trees and bushes.
  • Weather: overcast, 24° C (felt temperature)
  • Given Name: The Wild Pig Confluence

The story finishes here. I have now visited all Italian confluence points!


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence from 70 m Distance
#2: View to the South
#3: Viewto the West
#4: View to the North
#5: View to the East
#6: GPS Reading
#7: Ground Zero
#8: The Confluence Hunter
#9: Staiti
#10: Wild Pigs Block the Way Ahead
#11: Bicycle Parking in 700 m Distance
#12: View to the Confluence from 200 m Distance
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
Near the southeastern edge of the Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte.