It is the third-largest river in the region in terms of water discharge and extent of its basin after the Crati and Neto.

It collects the waters of many springs at the foot of the Pollino massif and the Serra Dolcedorme through the tributaries Esaro, Tiro and Garga.

The river then feeds into the Crati just east of Apollinara, a frazione in the comune of Corigliano Calabro.

The river is crossed in several places by the A2 motorway from Salerno to Reggio Calabria from the pass of Campotenese (at an elevation of 1000 meters), a frazione of Morano Calabro, to Castrovillari.

It is a seasonal river with strong winter runoff and a lower discharge in summer, pouring 5 m3/s in the Crati during August.