About Ragoleto Dam

Ragoleto is the smallest reservoir in the Sicily monitoring network, impounding just 2.5 million cubic metres on a tributary of the Dirillo river in the province of Ragusa. The 30-metre gravity dam was completed in 1965 and serves local irrigation and water supply needs in the south-eastern corner of Sicily near the town of Acate. Despite its small size, Ragoleto plays a role in the integrated management of the Dirillo catchment, working alongside the larger Cimia reservoir upstream to provide a downstream buffer for agricultural users along the lower river. The area around Ragoleto is part of Sicily's most productive agricultural zone, where greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes, aubergines, and courgettes generates significant export revenues. Water availability in summer is critical for maintaining this intensive horticulture, and even a small reservoir like Ragoleto contributes to bridging the gap between winter rainfall and summer demand. The Dirillo river eventually empties into the Gulf of Gela, and its lower valley is flanked by some of the most important ancient Greek archaeological sites in Sicily, including Camarina.