Lake Orta (Lago d´Orta)

Lake Orta covering a surface of 18.2 sq. km lies in the Piedmont (North of Italy), west of Lago Maggiore, at an altitude of 290 m. The lake has a length of 13.4 km and a width of 2.5 km. Its maximum depth is 143 m. Isola San Giulio is the only island in Lake Orta.

Lake Orta was formed by melting glaciers like other pre-alpine lakes. The Western shore is steep, here begin the foothills of the Monte-Rosa massif, which with 4,633 m is the second highest peak of the Alps. The Eastern shore gradually rises to the Mottarone mountain (1,491 m), forming the border to Lago Maggiore.

The climate is mild with low precipitations. Since ancient times, the shores of the lake have been populated and the people lived off fishery, agriculture and animal husbandry. At the end of the 19th century, thanks to the railway, timber processing and iron production as well as marble and granite quarries developed. Nowadays, the lake is used for many leisure activities.

Partner Organisations

Provincia del Verbano Cusio Ossola

Contact: Giovanni Desanti, Councillor for Environment

Via dell´ Industria, 25

I - 28924 Verbania, Italy

Phone: +39 - 03 23 - 49 50 11

Fax: +39 - 03 23 - 49 50 237

E-mail: desanti@provincia.verbania.it

Website: www.provincia.verbania.it/ (in Italian only)