Orco Valley

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 elevation	300–4,061 m (984–13,323 ft)
Length	around 50 km (31 mi) west east
Geology
Type	Glacial valley^[1]
Geography
Location	Piedmont, Italy
Population centers	Alpette, Ceresole Reale, Locana, Noasca, Pont Canavese, Ribordone, Sparone, Cuorgnè
Coordinates	45°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

Summits in the valley include:

• Gran Paradiso (4,061 m)
• Torre del Gran San Pietro (3,692 m)
• Ciarforon (3,642 m)
• Levanna Centrale (3,619 m)
• Punta di Galisia (3,345 m)
• Torre di Lavina (3,308 m)
• Punta Leynir (3,238 m)
• Punta Bes (3,177 m)

Nature protection

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

Notes

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