Lago Ritom
Encyclopedia
Lago Ritom is a small lake
in the Piora valley, Ticino
, Switzerland
. The natural lake is used as a reservoir
by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS
) to generate hydro-electric power for the Gotthard line
. The first dam was built in 1918 and, in 1950, its height was increased by 23 m.
The lake can be reached by funicular
from Piotta 786 m below. The track with a length of 1369 m has a maximum inclination of 87.8%, the highest in Europe.
The lake's surface area is 1.49 km² at an elevation of 1850 m. With Lake Cadagno
and Lago di Tom
, it is one of the main lakes in the Piora valley.
Before being used as a reservoir, Lake Ritom was a meromictic lake similar to the nearby Lake Cadagno
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Piora valley, Ticino
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The natural lake is used as a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
) to generate hydro-electric power for the Gotthard line
Gotthardbahn
Gotthardbahn was the name of a private Swiss railway company which operated the railway line from Immensee to Chiasso . Nowadays this term usually does not refer to that company, but to the railway line itself...
. The first dam was built in 1918 and, in 1950, its height was increased by 23 m.
The lake can be reached by funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
from Piotta 786 m below. The track with a length of 1369 m has a maximum inclination of 87.8%, the highest in Europe.
The lake's surface area is 1.49 km² at an elevation of 1850 m. With Lake Cadagno
Lake Cadagno
Lake Cadagno is a meromictic lake in the Piora valley , Switzerland. As one of a few meromictic lakes in Europe, it is the object of numerous scientific studies...
and Lago di Tom
Lago di Tom
Lago di Tom is a lake in the Piora Valley, in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Its surface area is 0.13 km²....
, it is one of the main lakes in the Piora valley.
Before being used as a reservoir, Lake Ritom was a meromictic lake similar to the nearby Lake Cadagno
Lake Cadagno
Lake Cadagno is a meromictic lake in the Piora valley , Switzerland. As one of a few meromictic lakes in Europe, it is the object of numerous scientific studies...
.
External links
- Lago Ritom - tourist information
- Funicolare del Ritom - Ritom funicular
- Ritom's waters power the Gotthard