In what European country is the Po River?

The Po is a river that flows eastward across northern Italy. It is the longest river in Italy; at its widest point its width is 503 m (1,650 ft). The river flows through many important Italian cities, including Turin, Piacenza and Ferrara. The Po begins in the Alps and ends at a delta projecting into the Adriatic Sea near Venice. The river is subject to heavy flooding. Consequently, over half its length is controlled with dikes.

In 2002, the city of Milan had no sewage treatment plant. The sewage went through channels directly into the Po, for which the European Environment Agency cited the city. Since 2005, all sewage from Milan is treated in three different plants in Nosedo, San Rocco and Peschiera Borromeo. The three plants can collectively treat the sewage from over 2.5 million inhabitants equivalent.

In 2005, water from the Po was found to contain "staggering" amounts of benzoylecgonine, which is excreted by cocaine users in urine. Based on these figures, cocaine consumption was estimated to be about 4 kg daily, or 27 doses per day per thousand young adults in areas that feed into the river—a number nearly three times higher than previous estimates.

The two main economic uses of the valley are for industry and for agriculture, both major uses. The industrial centers, such as Turin and Milan, are located on higher terrain, away from the river.