Lago Ritom is a lake in the Piora valley , Ticino , Switzerland . The natural lake is used as a reservoir by the Swiss Federal Railways ( SBB-CFF-FFS ) to generate hydro-electric power for the Gotthard line . The first dam was built in 1918 and, in 1950, its height was increased by 23 m.
6-453: The lake's surface area is 1.49 km² at an elevation of 1850 m. With Lake Cadagno and Lago di Tom , it is one of the main lakes in the Piora valley. Before being used as a reservoir, Lake Ritom was a meromictic lake similar to the nearby Lake Cadagno . The lake can be reached by funicular from Piotta 786 m below. The track with a length of 1,369 m has a maximum inclination of 87.8%,
12-402: A good opportunity to study the metabolisms connected with eutrophication on a stable model, as it is well known that one of the advanced stages of eutrophication is biogenic meromixis. For the last 25 years the area has been increasingly used for scientific purposes, both for teaching and researching various environmental subjects. In view of stimulating educational and scientific activities at
18-405: A natural geological phenomenon. The lower abounds with dissolved mineral salts (sulphate, magnesium, calcium, carbonate) originating from sublacustrine springs, whereas the separate upper layer is permanently oxygenated. Anaerobic phototrophic bacteria – among them Chromatium okenii —thrive between the two layers where they find the ideal conditions for their development. Such an ecosystem provides
24-585: A university level, the Alpine Biology Center (ABC) has been set up by the Canton of Ticino, in cooperation with the universities of Geneva and Zurich. For this purpose, two 16th century buildings of the Alpe Piora have been turned into a laboratory and lodgings. The Microbiology Institute of the canton of Ticino is responsible both for managing the center and coordinating its activities. Cyclobotryococcatriene ,
30-514: The Saint-Gotthard Massif (central Swiss Alps) in the Southern part of Switzerland near Airolo at an altitude of 1921 m above sea level - is a landlocked alpine valley whose scientific value has been recognized for more than two centuries. In the past, the lake was used as a reservoir . Lake Cadagno is a rare example of crenogenic meromixis. Its waters show a permanent stratification due to
36-591: The highest in Europe after the Gelmerbahn funicular (106%). This article related to a lake in Ticino is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lake Cadagno Lake Cadagno (Italian: Lago di Cadagno ) is a meromictic lake in the Piora valley (canton of Ticino ), Switzerland . As one of a few meromictic lakes in Europe, it is the object of numerous scientific studies. The Piora valley - located in
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