Terrible Landslide Created a Marvelous Valley

Nature lovers and explorers can always find something astonishing when they look around with open eyes and enjoy what they see...

Nov 12, 2024

Dear friend, I’m happy you are still with me and want to tell you a new curious story that I hope you like.

I've had a tough time the last few months with the health consequences, but it seems the treatments are fixing me — and that is why I am so happy to be here with you and continue with my stories.

Today, I want to tell you how frightening the forces of nature are. That amazes me.

This photo seems to represent an idyllic place. And maybe it really is in spring. Although I must say that in autumn it is also very nice, to visit.

I have heard many times about this beautiful valley. I have not been there because it is far away, foremost. But then a lady told me she had seen ibex there a week before, and I decided to go there before it got cold.

There are two lakes in the area. I visited one and did a circular walk around it. The other lake is probably much higher, but I arrived too late to start the climb. I think it would be smarter to go there in the summer, but ibexes do not stay in the valley, they go far away from the people in the high mountains. But, they say, that in winter they can also go down to villages in search of food. So, I decided to go there, hoping to meet them. And discovered an interesting place. Look at the map.

Look up where it says ALTA VALLE. More or less from there, in 1642, a huge landslide came down and covered everything from where the lake is now to the right of the map (there is a village there).

In the area, there are many water sources and over time a lake has formed. It exceeds a depth of 49 meters. Where is written A.Ronco, the second little river left, is where you find the waterfall.

I was very impressed to pass there and to think about all those masses that could fall, too.

In this photo, on the left, is the mountain where the landslide came from. The waterfall is in the middle.

About ten years ago, equipped paths were created, not difficult, although caution is needed in some places. I started the walk from above (map) and I made the right choice because the climb on the other side was harder.