Lake Mezzola
| Lake Mezzola | ||
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| Geographical location | Lombardy , Italy | |
| Tributaries | Mera | |
| Drain | Mera | |
| Places on the shore | Verceia , Novate Mezzola , Dubino | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 46 ° 12 '3 " N , 9 ° 26' 32" E | |
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| surface | 4 km² | |
| length | 3.5 km | |
| Maximum depth | 69 m | |
The Lago di Mezzola is a 4 km² large, 69 m deep lake, north of Lake Como in northern Italy . The lake is located at an altitude of 199 meters.
geography
Lake Mezzola is located north of Lake Como , from which it is separated on the south-western edge by the course of the Mera river , and on the south by the Pian di Spagna , a reed and marsh area that is separated by the sediments of Adda and Mera is formed. There is the nature reserve Riserva naturale Pian di Spagna e Lago di Mezzola .
The lake from which the Swiss fed Bergell coming Mera , in the north of Piano di Chiavenna has formed. The lake has two other small tributaries, the Codera, which crosses the Codera Valley (Italian: Val Codera) before entering Novate Mezzola , and the Ratti, which crosses the Ratti Valley (Italian: valle dei Ratti ).
The municipality of Verceia ( Varsceja in the dialect of Chiavenna) lies directly on the east bank , while Novate Mezzola is to the north . The settlements Albônico and the Sasso di Dascio ( Dàsc in Como dialect), a rocky lookout point on the west bank, belong to the municipality of Sorico ( Soeurich in Como dialect, IPA : [ˈsørik]) on Lake Como . The rock faces of Monte Sciesa (2487 m), Sasso Manduino (2888 m) and Pizzo di Prata (2727 m) dominate the eastern shore of the lake.
The west bank is formed by the predominantly steep granite stone walls of Monte Berlinghera (1930 m).
geology
Its formation is linked to that of Lake Como, more than 1.8 million years ago, and can be traced back to the melting of a huge glacier.
history
Lago di Mezzola was originally the northern branch of Lake Como, which stretched north to Samolaco . During prehistoric times, the region served as an important connecting route between the Po Valley and the Northern Alps. After the Gauls, the Romans settled it and named it summus lacus , meaning "tip of the lake"; he belonged to the Gallic province of Cisalpine. The region is mentioned on ancient road networks, including the world map by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and the Antonini Itinerarium from the 3rd century.
Due to the ongoing flooding of the Adda river (drains the Valtellina ), the confluence of the Mera and Adda rivers into Lake Como changes continuously, with the bed load forming the Pian di Spagna , the southern floodplain that separates it from Lake Como.
In this meadow, at today's location "Ponte del Passo" between the municipalities of Gera Lario and Sorico , the Romans founded the river port Olonio (Latin Olonium ) as a strategic base for the waterway of Lake Como, between the Vetlin Valley (itla. Valtellina) and Chiavenna. The port connected the waterway of Lake Como with the Rhaetian territories and became an early Christian center. The port was flooded so often that it was finally abandoned in the 15th century. In 1444 the parish church was handed over to Sorico. Today Olonio has completely disappeared.
A section of the Via Regia or Via Regina, which connects Como with Chiavenna , is paved, sometimes only as a path over the steep west bank, and continues northwards with the Splügenpass , Julierpass alternatively Septimerpass . This path was used by pilgrims until the Middle Ages, when traders and goods evidently crossed the lake. Under the Lombard rule , the road was repaired by Queen Theodolinda , and control of the road often led to attacks. After the reign of the Franks, she experienced the rule of the Visconti and from 1450 the Sforza . This was followed by foreign rule by the Spaniards, Austrians and, for a short time, the French. During the First World War, this section was repaired by pioneers - as evidenced by a rock inscription along the way.
In 1520 the river bed of the lower Adda suddenly changed and the slopes of Sasso Corbè were washed over by a great flood, causing the malaria cases to rise again.
The separation from Lake Como by the debris of the Adda probably took place after 1730, because the two lakes are still connected on the map by G. Walser from 1730.
In the north of the lake, at the mouth of the Mera, is Novate Mezzola . To the west, the Tempietto di San Fedelino (also called Oratorio di San Fedele), a Roman Catholic chapel built around the 10th century, with frescoes from the 11th century, commemorates the martyrdom of San Fedele, persecuted by Diocletian and destroyed in 298 AD killed. His relics were brought to Como in the middle of the 10th century.
From 1512 to 1797, the northern and eastern shores of the lake formed the border between the Duchy of Milan and the Free State of the Three Leagues , a place facing (allied) with the old Swiss Confederation . In 1625 the lake was the scene of the Battle of Verceia in the Veltliner War . Today a large part of the lake belongs to the Italian province of Sondrio , a small part to the Italian province of Como , both parts of the Lombardy region .
Riserva naturale Pian di Spagna e Lago di Mezzola
The 1500 hectare Au Pian di Spagna has been a nature reserve since 1983. The area takes its name from the Spanish military camp that was installed here, not far from the Forte di Fuentes fortress , which was built during the Spanish rule over the Milan area (1535–1706).
Every year, the wetland invites you to a large bird-watching event. Rare animal species, especially bird species, breed in a protected location there. Hiking trails run through the entire area, but some trails may only be walked with a guide from the protected area. Numerous tours on a wide variety of topics are offered.
In 2004, the Ministry of Health classified Lake Mezzola as not suitable for bathing. In 2016 the State Environment Agency assessed the chemical status of the lake as "not good" due to high concentrations of chromium and other metals. The pollution was caused by the toxic slag of a steel mill that closed in 1991.
Web links
- Lago di Mezzola on the ETHorama platform
- Lake Como Lago di Mezzola
- The Pian di Spagna plain
- Pian di Spagna (Italian)
- Forte di Fuentes (Italian)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The first documents that prove the existence of the parish church of Olonio date from the 11th century - see the Italian sources http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/schede/10100281/ and http: //www.lombardiabeniculturali. it / istituzioni / schede / 10000293 /
- ↑ Already at the end of the 14th century the area of Olonio was threatened by the rise in the lake level. In 1443 the construction of a new church began in Sorico to transfer privileges and property there. A document dated June 13, 1444 from the archpriest of Olonio, Tomaso de Andreani, to the municipality of Sorico proves this transfer and at the same time that Olonio could no longer be saved see the Italian source http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/istituzioni/ schede / 10100281 /
- ↑ It is not clear whether this section of Via Regina / Via Regia / Antica Strada Regina was part of the Roman trade route. What is certain is that the area is on the north-south road from the Baltic Sea via Ulm / Augsburg to Milan and Rome
- ^ R. Handtke, Ice Age, Volume 3, Thun, 1983
- ↑ At the time of the persecution of Christians, Fedele was a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity: because of his refusal to perform sacrificial rites before an expedition, he was imprisoned with six other companions. He managed to escape and hide at the northern end of Lake Como, then a single expanse of water with Lake Mezzola, but was overtaken and beheaded by one of his pursuers: the place of martyrdom became the basis of the religious building - see Italian Source http://www.piandispagna.it/la-riserva/localita-storiche/ and http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/LMD80-00796/
- ↑ Report at http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_624_ulterioriallegati_ulterioreallegato_2_alleg.pdf