Colla Rossa (both on Italian and on the French maps) at 2,172 m is a mountain pass in the Ligurian Alps. It connects the valleys of Roya in France and Tanaro in Italy.

Colla Rossa
The Italian side of the pass
Elevation2,172 m (7,126 ft)[1]
Traversed byformer military dirt road
LocationPiedmont, Italy
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
RangeLigurian Alps
Coordinates44°06′46″N 7°41′02″E / 44.11268°N 7.68391°E / 44.11268; 7.68391
Colla Rossa is located in Alps
Colla Rossa
Colla Rossa
Location of the pass

Etymology edit

 
Colloa Rossa as seen from Monte Bertrand, on the right the Cime de Missun

The name Colla, which in Italian also means glue, in Liguria also refers to a mountain pass. Rossa means red and comes from the reddish colour of the ground in the pass area.[2]

Geography edit

The pass stands between Monte Bertrand (NW) and Cime de Missun, and belongs to the Main chain of the Alps and to the water divide between the drainage basins of river Po (East) and Roya. Administratively is shared by the Italian comune of Briga Alta (CN) and the French mairie of La Brigue (FR-06).[1]

History edit

The pass up to World War II was totally belonging to Italy but, following the Paris Peace Treaties signed in February 1947, is now lies on the France–Italy border.[3]

Access edit

The Colla Rossa can be reached on foot, by mountain bike and in some month of the year also with off-road vehicles, from Colle delle Selle Vecchie or Passo Tanarello following the former military dirt road which connects Monesi with the Colle di Tenda.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Official map by Institut géographique national, on-line: www.geoportail.gouv.fr
  2. ^ Piervi (2012-07-24). "M.Bertrand (2482) - M.Velega (2384) - p. Selle Vecchie, da Upega" (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  3. ^ Trattato di pace tra Italia ed Alleati, treaty text on www.instoria.it (access-date: 2019-07-14)
  4. ^ settecapelli Andrea81 (2011-11-26). "Missun (Cima) dal Ponte del Giairetto per la Colla Rossa" (in Italian). Retrieved 2019-07-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)