Cingino Dam

Dam in Piedmont, Italy
Dam in Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont
46°1′49″N 8°2′17″E / 46.03028°N 8.03806°E / 46.03028; 8.03806Construction began1925Opening date1930Dam and spillwaysType of damGravity, masonryHeight49 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

  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.