Underground river discovered in Rome Feb 13, 2009

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Scientists discovered an unknown underground water stream in Rome, the capital of Italy. The river that flows underground can produce geothermal energy because its average water temperature is +20 C. Its trajectory was defined when the group of Italian volcanologist and geochemist Franco Barbieri drilled 200 holes. The analysis of the samples proved that the river is located 30-60 meters underground. Water is not polluted with impurities and its temperature is about +18-21 C.

The humankind has used the geothermal energy of rivers and geysers since ancient times, but only if there are thermal waters of high temperatures. Modern technologies that are used in Sweden and other northern European countries nowadays allow getting energy when the water temperature is less than +20 C. According to the president of Italian national institute of geology and volcanology, the discovery of the underground river will help Rome get rid of dependence on traditional organic sources of energy. Rome may become the cleanest capital of Europe.