Asco, Haute-Corse
Asco (in Corsican Ascu, pronounced [ˈaːs.ku]) is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aschesi
Asco is a remote commune high in the mountains some 20 km in a direct line south-east of Calvi and 15 km north-west of Corte. It is a commune which was part of the former Pieve of Caccia: a historic territory, geographically and culturally, which was made up of Niolo, Giovellina, and the Asco Valley which today is called the High Centre of Corsica. The commune is part of the ten communes in the Canton of Castifao-Morosaglia. It is also located in the Parc naturel régional de Corse (Regional Natural Park of Corsica).
The main access to Asco is by the D47 (branches from the N197 at a place called Ponte Rossu 1.5 km north of Ponte-Leccia). The D47 is the road to the villages of Moltifao and Castifao however to get to Asco and the upper valley, the D147 branches from the D47 at the Capanacce junction south of Moltifao. From this junction, it is about 12 km to the remote village, crossing the gorges of Asco. The road continues beyond the village and, after passing through the Asco communal forest, it ends in a cul-de-sac at the former ski resort of Haut-Asco, a remote place 14 km south-west of Asco.[2]
To improve traffic circulation, the D147 follows a route around the village. The former road through the village is named D147a and is a way reserved for residents.
There is no public road transport of passengers or goods. The Railways of Corsica line passes through Ponte-Leccia where there is a station.
The nearest airport is the Bastia – Poretta Airport near Bastia and the nearest commercial seaport is that of Bastia.
Asco is, with Moltifao and Castifao, one of the three communes in the Asco valley. Asco occupies the upper part of the valley which takes its name from the river Asco. The river's Drainage basin is Haut-Asco which is formed by a chain of high mountains including some of the highest peaks on the island: Capu Biancu (2,582 m), Capu a u Verdatu (2,583 m), Punta Selolla (2,592 m), Capu Ciuntrone (2,666 m), Monte Cinto (2,706 m) on the western side where the source of the river is, Pointe des Éboulis (2,607 m), Punta Crucetta (2,499 m), Capu Larghia (2,503 m), Punta Minuta (2,556 m), Capu di a Muvraghia (2,582 m), and Punta Missoghiu (2,201 m). The river flows through the commune to its confluence with the Ruisseau de Cabanne where there is a bridge. Another footbridge was located at the beginning of the Asco gorges but was destroyed by a recent flood.
The main river is the Asco[Note 1] which has its source from under the Punta Rossa (or Pic Von Cube) (2,247 m) in the commune as the Ruisseau de Tighiettu and, further downstream, it becomes the Ruisseau de Stranciacone. It leaves the communal territory at the walkway located at the confluence of the Ruisseau de Cabanne in the place called Gorges of Asco. This walkway is 383 m above sea level and provides access to the existing adventure park for tree climbing, Via ferrata, etc. The Asco has many tributaries: thirteen are listed on the SANDRE website.[3]
A power plant was built upstream of the Asco Genoese bridge.
Less than 400 m in a direct line north-west of Monte Cinto is the Lac d'Argentu (Argentu Lake) (2300 m).