Lake Orta
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| Lake Orta | |
|---|---|
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| Coordinates | |
| Primary outflows | Nigoglia |
| Max length | 13.4 km |
| Max width | 2.5 km |
| Surface area | 18.2 km² |
| Max depth | 143 m |
| Surface elevation | 290 m |
| Islands | Isola San Giulio |
Lake Orta (It. Lago d'Orta) is a lake in northern Italy west of Lago Maggiore.
It has been so named since the 16th century, but was previously called the Lago di San Giulio, after Saint Julius (4th century), the patron saint of the region; Cusio is a merely poetical name. Its southern end is about 22 m. by rail N.W. of Novara on the main Turin-Milan line, while its north end is about 4 m. by rail S. of the Gravellona-Toce railway station, half-way between Ornavasso and Omegna. It has an area of about 6J sq. m., it is about 8 m. in length, its greatest depth is 482 ft., and the surface is 951 ft. above sea-level, while its width varies from ?? to ?? m. Its scenery is characteristically Italian, while the San Giulio island (just W. of the village of Orta San Giulio) has some very picturesque buildings, and takes its name from the local saint, Julius of Novara, who lived in the 4th century.
The chief place is Orta San Giulio, built on a peninsula projecting from the east shore of the lake, while Omegna is at its northern extremity. It is supposed that the lake is the remnant of a much larger sheet of water by which originally the waters of the Toce or Tosa flowed south towards Novara. As the glaciers retreated the waters flowing from them sank, and were gradually diverted into Lago Maggiore.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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