Lake Ponte Vittorio
The Lake Ponte Vittorio is an artificial lake basin located at 710 m elevation between the municipalities of Camandona and Callabiana, both in the Province of Biella.
The capital of the town of Camandona is located 1.5 km northeast of the water body.
Morphology
The Ponte Vittorio dam blocks the Strona di Mosso stream at the confluence with the Rio Beran and the Rio Barguso.The resulting lake has a bifurcated shape and, from the dam, extends northwest with two arms that penetrate the small valleys formed by the Rio Barguso and the Strona.
A small road north of the basin allows easy access to the water body.
Dam
The dam, 33 m high, was built in 1953 to create a reservoir that would regulate the water supply for industrial users located further downstream along the course of the Strona. It is managed by the Società Acquedotto Industriale Vallestrona; in addition to the aforementioned industrial use, the lake's water is also used for drinking water purposes.In November 1968, when a tragic flood struck the Biellese, causing 12 deaths in Valle Mosso alone, it was rumored that the Ponte Vittorio dam had failed.
However, subsequent inspections completely disproved this rumor, as the dam was found to be perfectly intact.
Hiking and trail running
Just upstream of the lake runs the GtB, a long hiking itinerary that traverses the entire Province of Biella at mid-low elevation.In the vicinity of the reservoir, the annual Trail del is also held, organized by the G.S.A. Pollone sports association.