Lago Ritom | |
---|---|
Location | Piora Valley, Ticino |
Coordinates | 46°32′24″N 8°41′21″E / 46.54000°N 8.68917°ECoordinates: 46°32′24″N 8°41′21″E / 46.54000°N 8.68917°E |
Type | reservoir, natural lake |
Basin countries | Switzerland |
Surface area | 1.49 km2 (0.58 sq mi) |
Max. depth | 69 m (226 ft) |
Water volume | 48 million cubic metres (39,000 acre·ft) |
Surface elevation | 1,850 m (6,070 ft) |
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.
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%, the highest in Europe after the Gelmerbahn funicular (106%).