Valle Verzasca

The Valle Verzasca is a valley in the Swiss canton of Ticino and belongs to the district of Locarno. In the Verzasca Valley, the communities Mergoscia, Vogorno, Corippo, Lavertezzo, are Brione ( Verzasca), Gerra ( Verzasca), Frasco and Sonogno. Except Mergoscia, which belongs to the district Navegna, all are united in a circle Verzasca.

Location

The Valle Verzasca is a wild valley with steep slopes and numerous waterfalls. The Verzascahäuser ( Rustici ) of gray stone with white borders on the windows and heavy stone roofs are typical of the valley. The chapels along the way reflect the religious beliefs of the inhabitants of the valley.

The Verzasca Valley has Mergoscia with the geometric center of the Ticino and is the only valley that borders only valleys of Ticino. It is situated between the Leventina and the Maggia Valley and extends over a length of 25 km in south-north direction north of Lake Maggiore. The valley floor lies at 500-900 m above sea level. M. The mountains that surround the valley, have an average height of 2400 m. The valley is drained by the Verzasca River, which is dammed at the mouth of the valley and the Lago di Vorgorno forms before it flows into the Magadinoebene near the Ticino in the Lago Maggiore.

The side valleys of the Valle Verzasca are obtainable by the following communities of: On the right side of the valley: the Val Resa and Valle di Mergoscia of Mergoscia; Val di Corippo Corippo; Val d' Orgnana and Valle del Cansgell Lavertezzo; Val d' Osura of Brione; Val and Val Redorta Vegornèss of Sonogno. On the left side of the valley: the Val della Porta Vogorno; Val Carecchio, Val Pincascia and Val d'Agro Lavertezzo; Val Mött of Gerra; Val d' Efra of Frasco.

Climate, flora and fauna

Due to the different altitudes all climates are united in the Valle Verzasca. Tenero and Gordola belong because of the low sea level, the lake and the protection of the mountains of the Verzasca Valley from the north winds to Insubric climate region. Vineyards and Mediterranean vegetation benefits from mildest climate in Switzerland, fog and rain are rare cases of short duration. This climate stretches far into the valley where vineyards, chestnut forests and palm trees thrive. It then proceeds with increasing height above the hill and mountain air to the regions with alpine climate (over 2000 m above sea level. M. ). Because of the differences in soil texture and the amount you can meet almost all occurring in Ticino plant and animal species of the various environmental zones in the Verzasca Valley.

Introduced by the Romans chestnut ( Castanea sativa) is in the southern part of the valley, below 1000 m, the dominant tree species. Its wood has properties similar to the tropical timber. The chestnut forests is no longer farmed since the 1950s, as it usually is low forests. In Verzasca can be found in the vicinity of villages and mountain pastures ( monti ) "on the floor set " chestnut trees, ie approximately at man height sawed-off tree stumps. Since the chestnut has the ability to expel from the sawed-off stump again ( coppice ), you just had to wait so long (about 10 years) to the shoots reached the desired level, to be used for example as a bar for the extremely heavy stone roofs can. In 2005 published studies on experimental plants suggest the valuable chestnut again as the value of wood - for example for hardwood floors - to use.

In the Valle Verzasca, the old goat breed Nera Verzasca received that looks very similar to the Roman goat, as one can not detect due to Horn finds in Augusta Raurica. This medieval Robust goat has short hair, because it does not get stuck in the snow.

Economy

Previously, the population has been engaged mainly agriculture, ie mainly grazing. From the 14th century wintered inhabitants with their cattle in the Magadinoebene. Since the year 1600 a seasonal emigration for employment took place. Unemployed and adventurous men had themselves mercenaries for foreign armies recruit.

Since 1873 is broken down into two quarries of local workers granite. With the connection to the public transport developed from the late 19th century, tourism. In the late 19th century, after the California Gold Rush, began the tradition of California migration, which can be partially viewed as a replacement for the broken older European tradition of emigration in the Verzasca Valley.

During the crisis of the 1930s, unemployment also spread in the Verzasca and since America had closed the borders, even emigration was no longer possible. To help the unemployed population, the "Committee for the activities in homework " was ( " Comitato per i lavori casalinghi a domicilio " ) was founded. The valley people were busy with typical craft activities: wool dyeing with natural dyes ( leaves, roots and fruits that are available on site), hand spinning, knitting and woodwork, to relieve their financial hardship. From 1933 developed the "Pro Verzasca ", a local association for the preservation of the moral and material interests of the region and its best features.

The conversion of the old Verzascahäuser ( Rustici ) into holiday homes creates jobs, increased tourism receipts and ensures that the old houses and the characteristic spatial image are preserved. In 1990, only 20 percent of employees in the agricultural sector were working.

Traffic

The only Dale gateway to traffic and the post bus is in the south from Tenero or Gordola. The beginning on the left side of the valley canton road leads over Vogorno, Corippo, Lavertezzo, Brione ( Verzasca), Gerra ( Verzasca), Frasco and ends in Sonogno. It was only built in the years 1866 to 1871. A short spur road leads to Corippo. On the right side of the valley the road and bus route ends from Locarno already in Mergoscia.

Tourism

The many peaks with views of the Valais, the Bernese and Glarus and Grisons Alps and the numerous transitions in the side and neighboring valleys make the Valle Verzasca a paradise for hikers. The mountain huts barons Cognora, Efra, Osola, Fümegna and Borgna provide room and board.

The Sentierone Valle Verzasca is a red-white marked trail ( mountain road ), the Mergoscia and later along the Verzasca in several stages leading from Tenero above Lago di Vorgorno or via to Sonogno.

The Alta Via della Verzasca (VAV ) is regarded as one of the wildest mountain walks Switzerland ( SAC hiking scale = T6). It leads on abandoned alpine, steep ditches and inaccessible valleys and connects five cottages with each other. The route is highlighted in blue and white and the most difficult points are fitted with fuses ( wire ropes, metal brackets). The VAV often through very exposed terrain with climbs, so it is recommended only for experienced hikers.

The hike trekking 700 of Mesocco (GR ) to Formazza (I) passes through the Valle Verzasca: The 4th stage: Biasca - Capanna Efra, the 5th stage: Capanna Efra - Sonogno and the 6th stage: Sonogno - Prato Sornico.

The Verzasca River is popular with canoeists and divers, but regarded as difficult and dangerous.

Swimmers and sunbathers above Lavertezzo

Bungee jumping from the dam at Lake Vogorno

Path portion of the Via della Verzasca alta

Transitions in the Verzasca Valley

History

Because of its difficult access, the Verzasca Valley is considered one of the valleys that best took its origin. The remote geographical location made ​​it unattractive for the conquerors. Witness a very early settlement of the Verzasca region were found at the mouth of the Verzasca. There types of stone from the Neolithic Age ( 1800 BC) have been found. In Berzona, a hamlet ( frazione ) of Vogorno, is at the moving a large bowl stone Sass di Striöi ( Hexenstein ), which was probably edited to 600-700 BC. Altogether there are about 90 such is chiseled rocks in the Verzasca Valley. In Tenero 1880 an important Roman necropolis from the 1st and 2nd year. discovered AD. The finds (bronzes, amphorae, coins) are located in the Castello archaeological museum, the Visconti in Locarno.

Probably around 1000 AD founded the valley dwellers a community ( comunità ) consisting of the four village cooperatives ( vicinie ): Vogorno ( with Corippo ) Lavertezzo, Brione ( with Gerra ) and Frasco ( with Sonogno ). The community belonged to the Pieve of Locarno, against whom they rebelled in 1398. Between 1410 and 1500 the valley became alternately under the rule of the Confederates and the Savoy, Leventine and the Rusca. After 1686, the community was able to free himself from the Marcacci Reeves. 1803, the Verzasca Valley was a circle ( circolo ) with its capital Lavertezzo. In religious terms, the Verzasca Valley belonged to the 13th century the parish of San Vittore di Locarno.

Photo Gallery

View from the dam on the Lago di Vorgorno and Mergoscia

The dam in the Valle Verzasca

Vogorno, Lago di Vorgorno and Verzasca Valley to the north