Melezzo Orientale
Encyclopedia
The Melezzo Orientale, or simply the Melezzo, in Switzerland the Melezza, is a 40 km Alpine
torrent which runs through the eastern part of the Val Vigezzo, in the Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, northern Italy
; and through the Centovalli
of Canton Ticino, Switzerland
. Belonging to the Po basin, it is a tributary of the Maggia which in its turn flows into Lago Maggiore.
The springs are on the eastern slopes of Pioda di Crana. To begin with the river runs south forming the deep valley of Arvogno (a locality within the commune
of Toceno
); near Santa Maria Maggiore (VB)
the course turns east and takes it through the gentler slopes of the high plain which forms the central section of the Val Vigezzo; at Malesco
it is joined by the Loana.
Having passed through Re the valley narrows and the torrent begins to run through restricted gorges, entering in this manner Swiss territory, where it is known simply as the Melezza. Its course then runs through the Centovalli
and the municipalities of Borgnone
, Palagnedra
and Intragna
. Having been joined by its most important tributary, the Isorno
, it flows into the Maggia at Losone
, just before the Maggia enters Lago Maggiore.
A little after the Italian-Swiss border, near Palagnedra
, a dam
was built across the river in the years 1951–52 to create a the Lago di Palagnedra
, a reservoir
which provides hydropower
.
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
torrent which runs through the eastern part of the Val Vigezzo, in the Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; and through the Centovalli
Centovalli
Centovalli is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Borgnone, Intragna and Palagnedra merged into the municipality of Centovalli.-History:...
of Canton Ticino, 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....
. Belonging to the Po basin, it is a tributary of the Maggia which in its turn flows into Lago Maggiore.
The springs are on the eastern slopes of Pioda di Crana. To begin with the river runs south forming the deep valley of Arvogno (a locality within the commune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Toceno
Toceno
Toceno is a comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 130 km northeast of Turin and about 25 km north of Verbania....
); near Santa Maria Maggiore (VB)
Santa Maria Maggiore (VB)
Santa Maria Maggiore is a comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 130 km northeast of Turin and about 25 km north of Verbania, on the border with Switzerland...
the course turns east and takes it through the gentler slopes of the high plain which forms the central section of the Val Vigezzo; at Malesco
Malesco
Malesco is a comune in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 130 km northeast of Turin and about 20 km north of Verbania...
it is joined by the Loana.
Having passed through Re the valley narrows and the torrent begins to run through restricted gorges, entering in this manner Swiss territory, where it is known simply as the Melezza. Its course then runs through the Centovalli
Centovalli
Centovalli is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Borgnone, Intragna and Palagnedra merged into the municipality of Centovalli.-History:...
and the municipalities of Borgnone
Borgnone
Borgnone was a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Borgnone, Intragna and Palagnedra merged into the municipality of Centovalli.-History:...
, Palagnedra
Palagnedra
Palagnedra is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Lago di Palagnedra is located below the village, on the Melezza river...
and Intragna
Intragna, Switzerland
Intragna was a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Borgnone, Intragna and Palagnedra merged into the municipality of Centovalli....
. Having been joined by its most important tributary, the Isorno
Isorno (river)
The Isorno is an Italian and Swiss river, a tributary of the Melezzo Orientale.Its source is in Italy near Pioda di Crana. It passes through Bagni, a frazione of Craveggia, then entering Switzerland it flows through Onsernone, Mosogno, Isorno and Intragna, where it joins the Melezzo Orientale.Its...
, it flows into the Maggia at Losone
Losone
Losone is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:The peat bogs of Arcegno, the rock shelters of Quarigo and the rock carvings in soapstone and gneiss appear to confirm that Losone has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. In 1934 and again in...
, just before the Maggia enters Lago Maggiore.
A little after the Italian-Swiss border, near Palagnedra
Palagnedra
Palagnedra is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Lago di Palagnedra is located below the village, on the Melezza river...
, a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was built across the river in the years 1951–52 to create a the Lago di Palagnedra
Lago di Palagnedra
Lago di Palagnedra is a lake at Palagnedra, Ticino, Switzerland. The reservoir has a volume of 4.26 mio m³ and a surface area of 0.25 km². The dam on the Melezza river was completed in 1952. Its height is 72 m.-External links:*...
, 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...
which provides hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
.