A century ago work began on the construction of the Traversa sul Liro. Today this extraordinary work is celebrating its vital role within the context of the country’s energy, just rewards for a decidedly long-term approach towards renewable sources. 1923 marked a fundamental juncture in the history of the construction of the vast hydroelectric reservoirs of Spluga and Valchiavenna. That was the year in fact that work began on the construction of the socalled "Traversa sul fiume Liro", the complex engineering project of an underground connection making it possible to link all the reservoirs of the Valle Spluga, and as far as the massive power station at Mese.
It took fully four years to complete the impressive operation. Today the entire system, with its dams and A2A power plants, plays a leading role in the Italian energy development project focused on renewable sources. There are a number of power plants all located within the Valle Spluga: Montespluga, Madesimo, Isola, Truzzo, Sancia and Prestone. The lastmentioned, at Campodolcino represents one of the principal hubs of the Traversa as it develops along the Liro torrent. Beautiful days during Autumn throw up tempting opportunities to venture out on tranquil walks along the lakesides, taking in the magnificent autumn colours within the surrounding nature, alongside the striking industrial architecture of the power plants which form a seamless part of the Alpine setting and a chance to reflect on the modernity of the complex project which permits eco-friendly energy production. The Prestone power station came into operation in 1953. For those with a technical interest it’s worth noting that it is made up of two vertical axis Francis turbines with a maximum power of approximately 25 MW. Prestone can produce around 70 million kWh a year, equal to the annual needs of 24.000 homes. The importance that the power stations of Spluga and Valchiavenna assumed in the early years of the country’s development is illustrated in numerous articles of the time celebrating Italian “courageous ingenuity”. Prince Umberto of Savoy personally participated in the inauguration of the Mese power station in 1927. It was the largest in Valchiavenna and the most powerful in Europe at the time. It’s perhaps a page of history that few people remember today but which gives a particularly good idea of just what this extraordinary venture represented.
Six-legged excursions. Guide to the Pathways of Valchiavenna, quite possibly with a dog for company.
Can you recommend a hike? My project to produce the guide “Valchiavenna ...
It’s called “Spluga Climbing” and is the new indoor climbing wall constructed in the municipal gym in Campodolcino. An 18 metre vertical - one of the highest indoor - made of reinforced concrete with a coloured finish, ...
When it rains chestnuts! Discovering Autumn in Valchiavenna through the eyes of a Dutch biker.
Valchiavenna was the muse and inspiration of a quite extraordinary reportage, which last ...
Informazioni ex art. 1, comma 125, della legge 4 agosto 2017 n. 124
Relativamente agli aiuti di Stato e aiuti de Minimis, si rimanda a quanto contenuto nel
“Registro nazionale degli aiuti di Stato” di cui all’articolo 52 L. 234/2012 (www.rna.gov.it).
