| Type: |
Cirque glacier |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Region: |
Aosta Valley |
| Massif/Ice Cap: |
Gran Paradiso |
| Municipality: |
Valsavarenche |
| Municipality code: |
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| Location: |
|
|
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| Latitude (°, cent): |
45,56 N |
|
| Longitude (°, cent): |
7,26 E |
| Surface (km2): |
0,33 |
| Lenght (km): |
0,9 |
| Width (km): |
|
| Min. altitude (m): |
2975 |
| Max. altitude (m): |
3330 |
| Orientation (°) |
360 |
| Slope (°) |
15 |
|
|
EVENT: Date
20/8/1832
- Date quality: |
 |
| Type: |
Glacier flood (contain both lakes and water pocket) |
|
|
| Description |
During the night the emptying of glacial lake (unknown if endoglacial, epiglacial, or marginal lake, but probably epiglacial) caused a major flood in Leviona valley and in the below Valsavaranche. The phenomenon occurred during a very warm and dry period. The volume of water released is unknown. |
|
Effects: |
A wide rocks and debris drifts in the plain of "Leviona di mezzo" (about 2300 m) is surely attributable to this event (a lichenometric analysis carried out in 1992 has shown an age of the drift of about 160 years, corresponding to the period of the event). The debris-flow related to the flood dammed the Savara river, and a temporary lake formed near Degioz village. The flood ravaged the Valsavaranche: some persons and several animals were killed, large parts of the road, and bridges and mills were swept away. Such damages were reported as far as Villeneuve area (15 km), at the confluence with Dora Baltea river.
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| Deaths(#) |
0 |
|
|
|
Injuried (#) |
0 |
| Note |
The exact number of victims is unknown. |
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DAMAGES |
|
| Type: |
Agricolture |
Description: Several animals were killed by flood. |
| Type: |
Buildings |
Description: Several mills were swept away along the valley. |
| Type: |
Roads |
Description: The road of Valsavaranche was largely ravaged, and several bridges were swept away. |
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BIBLIOGRAPHY |
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Mortara G., Baroni C., Orombelli G., Sala E., 1998 - La rotta glaciale del 20 agosto 1832 nella valle di Leviona (Aosta): evidenze geomorfologiche. La prevenzione delle catastrofi idrogeologiche: il contributo della ricerca scientifica. Vol. II - Atti del convegno di Alba, 5-7 novembre 1996. CNR. P. 221 - 229. |
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Zanotto A., 1983 - Valsavarenche. Une communauté montagnarde au coeur du Gran Paradis. Musumeci, Aosta, p. 391. |
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