Jump to content

Cingino Dam

Coordinates: 46°1′49″N 8°2′17″E / 46.03028°N 8.03806°E / 46.03028; 8.03806
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cingino Dam
Alpine Ibex goats on the wall
Cingino Dam is located in Italy
Cingino Dam
Location of Cingino Dam in Italy
Official nameDiga del Cingino
CountryItaly
LocationAntrona Schieranco, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont
Coordinates46°1′49″N 8°2′17″E / 46.03028°N 8.03806°E / 46.03028; 8.03806
Construction began1925
Opening date1930
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity, masonry
Height49 metres (161 ft)[1]

The Cingino Dam is a gravity masonry dam located 7 kilometres (4 mi) southwest of Antrona Schieranco, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Piedmont, Italy. The dam creates Lago Cingino (or Cingino reservoir) which is fed by the Antigine and Troncone streams.[2] The reservoir has a surface area of 0.14 square kilometres (0.1 sq mi) and is maximum 2,262 metres (7,421 ft) above sea level,[3] typically 2,250 metres (7,382 ft).[4] It is one of five reservoirs within a hydroelectric complex in the Valle Antrona and helps supply the Campliccioli Power Plant with water for power production.[2]

The dam became an internet sensation due to pictures of Alpine Ibex that climb up its steep downstream face in order to lick salt off the stones.[5] A video shared by the BBC's Forces of Nature with Brian Cox has been viewed over 208 million times as of May 2022.[6] Despite the picturesque setting, Atlas Obscura describes the dam as "otherwise unremarkable."[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Biancardi, Carlo Massimo; Minetti, Alberto Enrico (2017). "Gradient limits and safety factor of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) locomotion". Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 28 (1). abstract. doi:10.4404/hystrix-28.1-11504. eISSN 1825-5272.
  2. ^ a b "Dams and Power Plants of the Antrona Valley". Municipality of Antrona Schieranco. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  3. ^ "Cingino". LIMNO Banca dati dei laghi italiani (in Italian). National Research Council (Italy). Archived from the original on 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  4. ^ "Dams and Power Plants of the Antrona Valley - cartina" (pdf). Municipality of Antrona Schieranco. 2017-03-06. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  5. ^ Dell'Amore, Christine (2010-11-01). ""Mind-Boggling" Pictures: Goats Scale Dam in Italy". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  6. ^ "The incredible ibex defies gravity and climbs a dam". BBC. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2021-02-13 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Goats of the Cinigo Dam". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2021-02-17.