THE TICINO. 
225 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
THE TICINO. 
The valley of the Ticino, or the Val Leventina, 
corresponds on the south of the Alps to that of the 
Reuss on the north. Below Airolo to Bellinzona the 
river runs, like the Reuss, in a cross valley, it fol- 
lows in the main the same direction, and like it is 
cut through crystalline rocks. It is of similar age, 
and is a valley of denudation, a child of the same 
rain and storms. 
At Airolo it crosses a longitudinal valley, which 
to the east is known as the Val Piora, and on the 
west as the Bedrettothal, just as the Reuss crosses 
the longitudinal valley of Urseren, and is joined by 
the brook from the Oberalp on the east, and the 
Realp-Reuss from the west. In both cases the 
stream coming from the west is the most consider- 
able. That which drains the Bedrettothal is generally 
considered as the Upper Ticino, but the direct con- 
tinuation of the Leventina is up the stream of the 
Tremola. 
Scenery of Switzerland. II. '5 
