Lake Orta

Lake Orta
Lago d’Orta
Cusio

Location Piedmont
Coordinates 45°49′02″N 8°24′24″E / 45.81722°N 8.40667°E / 45.81722; 8.40667Coordinates: 45°49′02″N 8°24′24″E / 45.81722°N 8.40667°E / 45.81722; 8.40667
Primary inflows underground springs, Scarpia, Pellino, Plesna, Qualba, Fiumetta, Pescone
Primary outflows Nigoglia
Catchment area 116 km²
Basin countries Italy
Max. length 13.4 km
Max. width 2.5 km
Surface area 18.2 km²
Average depth 71.6 m
Max. depth 143 m
Water volume 1.3 km³
Residence time 8.9 years
Surface elevation 290 m
Islands Isola San Giulio

Lake Orta (Italian: Lago d’Orta) is a lake in northern Italy, west of Lake 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. Its southern end is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) by rail, to the northwest of Novara on the main Turin-Milan line, while its north end is about 6 kilometres (4 miles) by rail south of the Gravellona-Toce railway station, halfway between Ornavasso and Omegna.

Its scenery is characteristically Italian, while the San Giulio island has some very picturesque buildings, and takes its name from the local saint, who lived in the 4th century.

Located around the lake are Orta San Giulio, built on a peninsula projecting from the east shore of the lake, Omegna at its northern extremity, Pettenasco to the east, and Pella to the west.

It is supposed that the lake is the remnant of a much larger sheet of water by which originally the waters of the Toce flowed south towards Novara. As the glaciers retreated the waters flowing from them sank, and were gradually diverted into Lake Maggiore.

References

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