Orco | |
Mouth Location: | Po at Chivasso |
Mouth Coordinates: | 45.1833°N 7.875°W |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Length: | 89.568km (55.655miles)[1] |
Source1 Elevation: | about 2600m (8,500feet) |
Discharge1 Avg: | 23.9m3/s[2] |
Basin Size: | 889.4km2 |
Tributaries Left: | Piantonetto, Eugio, Ribordone, Soana, Piova, Malesina |
Tributaries Right: | Gallenca |
Map: | Orco (rivière).png |
The Orco (Eva d'òr, that is lit. Water of gold; Latin: Orgus[3]) is an Italian river. It originates in the Piedmontese slopes of Gran Paradiso and after about 90km (60miles) reaches the Po river near Chivasso, in the Metropolitan City of Turin. Its drainage basin is home to the most important complex of hydropower in Piedmont, consisting of six major dams (Agnel, Serrù, Ceresole Reale, Teleccio, Piantonetto, Valsoera), many smaller reservoirs and numerous turbines and power stations.
The Orco is known also for its gold-bearing sand, extracted already in antiquity. Even today there is a certain activity, on an amateur level, searching for grains of gold.[4]