The Orco Valley (Italian: Valle dell'Orco) is a valley in the Piedmont region of northern Italy located in the Graian Alps, in the territory of the Metropolitan City of Turin. The valley takes its name from the Orco river, which flows through the valley.

Orco Valley
Valle Locana or Valle di Ceresole
Winter panorama of the valley from La Cialma (Locana)
Location of the valley in Piedmont, northern Italy
Floor elevation300–4,061 m (984–13,323 ft)
Lengtharound 50 km (31 mi) west east
Geology
TypeGlacial valley[1]
Geography
LocationPiedmont, Italy
Population centersAlpette, Ceresole Reale, Locana, Noasca, Pont Canavese, Ribordone, Sparone, Cuorgnè
Coordinates45°25′01″N 7°28′01″E / 45.417°N 7.467°E / 45.417; 7.467

The valley connects Pont Canavese to the Nivolet Pass. It is the site of a series of hydroelectric power plants, including that of the Lake of Ceresole.

The main municipalities in the Orco Valley are Locana, Noasca and Ceresole Reale.

Summits edit

Summits in the valley include:

Nature protection edit

A large part of the north side of the valley belongs to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso.[2]

Notes edit

  1. ^ La valle Orco, Gran Paradiso national park web site www.pngp.it (accessed in December 2012)
  2. ^ Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi scala 1:50.000 n. 3 Il Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, Istituto Geografico Centrale - Torino