| Longarone | |
|---|---|
| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Longarone | |
| The Vajont Dam as seen from Longarone today, showing approximately the top 60-70 metres of concrete. | |
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Longarone
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Province | Belluno (BL) |
| Frazioni | Dogna, Faè, Fortogna, Igne, Pirago-Muda Maè, Provagna, Rivalta, Roggia, Soffranco |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Roberto Padrin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 103 km2 (39.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 473 m (1,552 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2008)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,073 |
| • Density | 39.5/km2 (102.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Longaronesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 32013 |
| Dialing code | 0437 |
| Patron saint | Santa Maria |
| Saint day | 8 December |
| Website | Official website |
Longarone is a town and comune on the banks of the Piave in the province of Belluno, in North-East Italy. It is situated 35 kilometers from Belluno.
4,642 people work altogether in Longarone, which is 112.62% of the total population, with most actual inhabitants working within the village.
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The town is located on a road linking Belluno to Cortina d'Ampezzo, close to the borders of Veneto with Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Its nearest villages are Castellavazzo, Casso and Erto.
Longarone was the site of a battle in World War I, In which a few companies of German troops lead by Erwin Rommel successfully captured an entire Italian Division of over 10,000, retreating after the Battle of Kobarid (Caporetto). Rommel was awarded his pour le merite medal for this achievement.
The village was destroyed in the Vajont disaster on October 9, 1963, when a landslide from Monte Toc forced 50 million cubic metres of water (seiche) over the top of the Vajont Dam. Longarone lay in the immediate path of the wave of mud and water which swept into the valley below. 1,909 villagers were killed.
Longarone was rebuilt following the tragedy and is now once again a thriving community. The fortieth anniversary of the disaster was marked, in October 2003, by a commemorative ceremony in Longarone attended by President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Longarone Longarone] at Wikimedia Commons