Varaita Valley

Varaita Valley
Valle Varaita

The artificial lake of Pontechianale, in the highest part of the valley

Schematic map of the valley

Location Piedmont, Italy
Floor elevation 400–3,841 m (1,312–12,602 ft)
Long-axis length around 40 km (25 mi)
Geology
Type River valley
Geography
Coordinates 44°35′N 7°04′E / 44.583°N 7.067°E / 44.583; 7.067Coordinates: 44°35′N 7°04′E / 44.583°N 7.067°E / 44.583; 7.067

Varaita Valley (in Italian Valle Varaita) is a valley in south-west of Piedmont, in the Province of Cuneo - Italy.

Etymology

It takes its name from the Varaita, a right-hand tributary of the Po which flows through the valley.

Geography

Close the French border the valley is divided in two sub-valleys named Valle di Bellino (south) and Valle di Chianale (north), which meet near Casteldelfino.

The municipalities of Varaita Valley are Bellino, Brossasco, Casteldelfino, Costigliole Saluzzo, Frassino, Isasca, Melle, Piasco, Pontechianale, Rossana, Sampeyre, Valmala, Venasca and Verzuolo.

Notable summits

The most important mountains of the walley are the Monviso (3.841 m) and its subpeaks.

Other relevant summits of the valley, all belonging to the Cottian Alps, are:

  • Valle di Chianale:
    • Monte Losetta - 3054 m
    • Monte Ruine - 3143 m
    • Monte Aiguillette - 3298 m
    • Pic d'Asti - 3219 m
    • Rocca Bianca - 3064 m
    • Monte Pelvo - 3024 m
  • Valle di Bellino:
    • Cima Mongioia - 3340 m
    • Testa di Malacosta - 3212 m
    • Monte Ferra - 3094 m
    • Testa di Malacosta - 3212 m
    • Pelvo di Ciabrera - 3152 m
    • Pelvo d'Elva - 3046 m
  • Mid and lowest part of the valley:
    • Punta Rasciassa - 2664 m
    • Monte Nebin - 2510 m
    • Testa di Garitta Nuova - 2385 m
    • Monte Birrone - 2131 m
    • Monte Ricordone - 1764 m
    • Monte san Bernardo - 1625 m

Access

The valley can be reached by car/bus from Po Plain following the strada provinciale[1] della Valle Varaita; it also can be accessed by the French region of Queyras by the Collle dell'Agnello, the third highest Alpine pass crossed by an asphalted road.[2]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Strada provinciale = provincial road
  2. ↑ La leggenda del Colle dell'Agnello, web page on www.piemonteciclabile.it (accessed in December 2012)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Varaita Valley.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 6/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.