Province of Belluno
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| Nation |  Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Capital | Belluno |
| Area | 3,678 km² |
| Population (2004) | 209,550 |
| Density | 57 |
| Comuni | 69 |
| Vehicle Registration | BL |
| Postal Code | 32100 |
| Telephone Prefix | 0437 |
| ISTAT | 025 |
| President | Sergio Reolon |
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| Map highlighting the location of the province of Belluno in Italy | |
The Province of Belluno (Provincia di Belluno) is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.
It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 209,550 (2001).
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Geography
The province of Belluno is rather wide, and almost entirely occupied by mountain areas. It encompasses the natural and historical regions of Cadore, Feltrino, Alpago, Val di Zoldo, Agordino, Comelico and Ampezzano. The eastern part of the province features the Dolomites, including the famous Tofane, Marmolada and Cime di Lavaredo. The province is rich in water, with the presence of the wide Piave River, with its affluents Boite and Cordevole.
In the southern part is the Valbelluna, the widest and most populated valley of the province, with is bordered by the Venetian Prealps. Here is also located the National Park of Belluno Dolomites.
Climate
This province’s climate is among the most severe climates in the Alps. It is mostly influenced by the continentally, provided by the Dolomites and it’s very similar to the eastern Tyrol’s climate, or even more severe in the pre alps of the southern side, among the three provinces, Trento, Vicenza and Belluno, where an extremely continental climate is found.
This province may be divided in the following climatic zones:
The lowest valleys, at approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft) that usually have an almost mild climate, at the board line between the Oceanic climate Cfb and the humid continental climate Dfb: the coldest month’s average is usually between 0 and -3C. The summers are hot but not as hot as the valleys of the rivers Po and Adige. The hottest month’s average temperature is between 18 and 21C. This area, as most of the oriental Alps, is very wet. Belluno’s precipitation average is above 1300mm per year, snow is usual during all the winter months, and may occur even in March or November. Some years the winter may be milder due to the humidity, with averages around the freezing point, and big snowfalls with frequent snowbound. Main cities in this area: Belluno, Feltre, Seren del Grapa. The midland’s valleys, between 700m and 1500m (or until 1300 meters in the pre alps area), which have a typical humid continental climate Dfb. This climate is more severe in the extreme northern or southwestern regions of the province, while the central region (near Arabba or Cortina d’Ampezzo) is usually milder. Winter’s average temperature is between -7 and -5C in the North and Southwest during January, and between -5 and -3C around the central region. The coldest town, Santo Stefano di Cadore , at an elevation of only 900 meters, has temperature averages in January between -7 and -6,C. Other towns of relatively low elevations have really low averages, which would be found only above 1700 meters in other Italians provinces, as well as in any French or western Swiss provinces. The snow season depends on the altitude. Between 700 and 1200 meters, from early November until the middle of March, between 1200 and 1500 (or 1600 in Arabba), from late October until late April. The summer is usually wet and mild, but hotter than areas at the same altitude in the occidental valleys. In the lower lands (around 900 meters) temperature average around 16 or 17C. In higher lands (around 1400 meters) average around 14C. Rain is usual from March until November. Some towns and villages with this climate: Santo Stefano di Cadore (severe), Cortina D’Ampezzo (mild – sometimes Cfb), Arabba (mild if considered the altitude), Auronzo di Cadore (severe), Danta di Cadore, Sappada. The valleys around 1500 to 1900 meters, with cold continental climate Dfc. It is the wettest climate of the province. Some areas on the southern side of the province may receive more than 2000mm of precipitation per year, especially near the lakes, which can’t make the climate mild in this region, as in other alpine regions. Winters are very cold and snowy, with temperature averages between -9 and -5C. The snow season usually starts in late September and lasts until late May. It’s not often, but it can snow even during the summer, in early September or late August. The summer is rainy, sometimes foggy, and cool. Temperatures average in July between 10 and 12C. This area has a very few numbers of sunny days per year, and the average sunshine hours per day is also quite low, around 1 hour or less in January and around 4 or 5 hours in June and July. Due to the severity of the climate, only a few villages are found in this area, usually fractions of other towns. One of the most inhabited places in this area is Misurina, a village near the lake with the same name. The high lands, above 1900 meters, with mountain’s tundra climate ET. There are no inhabited places in this area. All the months have temperature averages below 10C. Above 2000 meters the precipitation rate starts to decrease. Higher the place, drier, and sunnier it is. The winter temperature averages in the mountain areas vary according to the altitude, and are always milder than the valley’s temperatures at the same quote. In January, the average temperature in mountains areas are around -3C at 1500m (while -6C in valleys), -6C at 2000m, -8C at 2500m and -10c at 3000 meters. Summers are cold above 2000 meters. The average temperature in July is around 12C at 1500m, 8C at 2000m, 6C at 2500 and 3C at 3000 meters. In Belluno province, the perpetual frost climate EF is not found, because the highest point, the Marmolada, at a few more than 3200 meters, has summer’s average temperature of approximately 20C.
History
The most ancient archeological finding in the province is that of Lagole di Calalzo, in Cadore, belonging to a c. 5th century BC sanctuary dedicated to a health god of Paleoveneti. A greater site, a nechropolis, has been excavated in the commune of Mel. Findings from these sites are now housed in the Museums of Pieve di Cadore and Mel.
Economy
Until recent times, the economy of the province was based on poor mountain agriculture. Now the latter has lost much of its importance, with the exception of the cultivation of beans in the Lamon highlands. Now the Bellunese can boast one of the most important industrial sectors of northern Italy, that of glasses production (Luxottica has its eat in Agordo, for example). Also important are the sectors of house appliances (Zanussi and others) and toilets furnitures (Ceramica Dolomite, IdealStandard).
One of the most important factors of the Bellunese economy is tourism. Cortina d'Ampezzo (where many scenes of the first Pink Panther movie were filmed), Alleghe, Arabba, Sappada and others are renowned in Italy and abroad.
Linguistic minorities
In the province, language minorities are present, which are now recognized by law:
- a Ladin minority is present in the three communes of Colle Santa Lucia-Col, Livinallongo del Col di Lana-Fodom and Cortina d'Ampezzo-Anpezo.
- a German-speaking minority in the commune of Sappada-Plodn, Farra d'Alpago and Tambre.
Comuni
There are 69 comuni (singular: comune) in the province. As of June 30, 2005, the main comuni by population are:
| Comune | Population |
|---|---|
| Belluno | 36,112 |
| Feltre | 20,122 |
| Sedico | 9,174 |
| Ponte nelle Alpi | 8,180 |
| Santa Giustina | 6,517 |
| Mel | 6,288 |
| Cortina d'Ampezzo | 6,216 |
| Limana | 4,670 |
| Trichiana | 4,604 |
| Pedavena | 4,435 |
| Agordo | 4,225 |
| Longarone | 4,114 |
| Cesiomaggiore | 4,096 |
| Pieve di Cadore | 4,017 |
External links
- (Italian) Province homepage
- Belluno's map
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