Biellese Alps

Alpi Biellesi
Prealpi Biellesi

The snow-clad Biellese Alps seen from Lessona.
Highest point
Peak Monte Mars
Elevation 2,600 m (8,500 ft)
Coordinates 45°38′04″N 7°54′52″E / 45.63444°N 7.91444°E / 45.63444; 7.91444Coordinates: 45°38′04″N 7°54′52″E / 45.63444°N 7.91444°E / 45.63444; 7.91444
Geography
Country Italy
Region Piedmont, Aosta Valley
Province Biella, Turin, Vercelli, Aosta Valley
Settlement Biella
Parent range Pennine Alps
Geology
Orogeny Alpine orogeny

The Biellese Alps (Alpi Biellesi or Prealpi Biellesi in Italian) are a sub-range of the Pennine Alps located between Piemonte and Aosta Valley (Italy).

Etymology

Alpi Biellesi literally means Alps of Biellese; Biellese is the geographical and historical area surrounding Biella, nowadays included in the province of Biella.

Geography

Administratively most part of the range belongs to the province of Biella, while its northern part falls in the province of Vercelli and the western one is divided between Province of Turin and Aosta Valley.

SOIUSA classification

According to SOIUSA (International Standardized Mountain Subdivision of the Alps) the mountain range is an Alpine supergroup classified in the following way:[1]

Borders

Borders of the Alpi Biellesi are:

Subdivision

Catena Tre Vescovi - Mars
Catena Monte Bo - Barone

The Alpi Biellesi are divided into two alpine groups, one of them further subdivided in subgroups (in brackets is reported their SOIUSA code):

These two subgroups are connected by Bocchetta del Croso.

Geology

From the geological point of view the Alpi Biellesi are composed by an alpine zone in the strict sense of the word and a prealpine zone, divided by the Insubric line (locally named Linea del Canavese). This important geologic fault, which forms the border between the Adriatic plate and the European plate, crosses Biellese from SW to NE through Bocchetto di Sessera and Bocchetta della Boscarola passes. Thus hills and mountains (i.e. Monte Barone) located south-east of the line can be considered part of southern Apulian foreland while most part of the range, located NW of the line, geologically belongs to the crystalline zone of the Alps. [2]

Notable summits

Mount Mucrone
NamemetresNamemetres
Monte Mars2,600 Mont de Pianeritz2,584
Punta Loozoney2,579Monte Bo2,556
Monte Cresto2,548Cima Tre Vescovi 2,501
Monte I Gemelli2,476Punta della Gragliasca2,397
Monte Camino2,391Colma di Mombarone2,371
Monte Mucrone2,335Monte Tovo2,230
Bec di Nona2,085Monte Barone2,044

Notable passes

Bocchetta della Boscarola from Bocchetto di Sessera
Namelocationtypemetres
Colle della Mologna GrandeGaby - Piedicavallo bridle path 2,364
Colle del LooGressoney-Saint-Jean - Rassa bridle path 2,452
Bocchetta del CrosoPiedicavallo - Rassa bridle path 1,943
Colle della Mologna PiccolaGaby - Piedicavallo bridle path2,208
Colle della BarmaOropa (Biella) - Fontainemore bridle path2,257
Bocchetto di Sessera Campiglia Cervo - Trivero - Valle Sessera road 1,373
Bocchetta della BoscarolaScopello - Valle Sessera dirt road 1,423
Colle della Gragliasca Rosazza - Fontainemore foot path 2,208
Colle della VecchiaPiedicavallo - Gaby bridle path 2,185
Colle della Lace Sordevolo - Settimo Vittone - Lillianesfoot path 2,121

Winter sports

Cross country skiing (Bocchetto Sessera)

In the Alpi Biellesi are located some ski resorts: Oropa (Biella) in the western part, with downhill skiing slopes ranging from 1,335 to 2,391 m;[3] Alpe di Mera (Scopello) and Bielmonte in the eastern part of the range. Near Bielmonte is also possible to practice cross country skiing with more than 30 km of maintained trails starting from Bocchetto Sessera (1,373 m).[4]

Hiking and climbing

Lots of climbing routes of different length and difficulty are described across the mountain range. Some of the most renowned ones are in the monte Mars area, like via Innominata[5] and cresta dei Carisey.[6] In the Alpi Biellesi there also are several vie ferratas, particularly around Oropa.[7]

The Alta Via delle Alpi Biellesi (literally high way of the Alpi Biellesi), a long-distance hiking trail which requires some climbing skills, covers the mountain range starting from Piedicavallo and ending in the village of Bagneri (Muzzano). The trekking is usually divided into five stretches and along it is possible to get food and accommodation in the following alpine huts: rifugio Rivetti, rifugio della Vecchia, capanna Renata al Monte Camino, rifugio Coda and rifugio Mombarone.[8]

Bibliography

Maps

See also

View of the Alpi Biellesi from Chiavazza, a quarter of Biella.

References

This article was originally translated from its counterpart on the Italian Wikipedia, specifically from this version.
  1. 1 2 Marazzi, Sergio (2005). Atlante Orografico delle Alpi. SOIUSA (in Italian). Priuli & Verlucca. p. 134. ISBN 978-88-8068-273-8.
  2. ↑ Falletti, Paolo; Chiara Girelli (2009). Itinerari geologici in Piemonte - La Valsesia (PDF). ARPA - Piemonte. p. 41. ISBN 978-88-7479-120-0. Retrieved 2012.
  3. ↑ Oropa page on en.skiinfo.com (accessed on March 2012)
  4. ↑ Centro Sci di Fondo Bocchetto Sessera, trails map on www.bocchetto.it (accessed on March 2012)
  5. ↑ Alpinismo, web page on www.montagnabiellese.com (accessed on September 2012)
  6. ↑ Monte Mars - Cresta dei Carisey - 2600, description on www.vienormali.it (accessed on September 2012)
  7. ↑ Vie ferrate e sentieri attrezzati, web page on www.montagnabiellese.com/ita/VieFerrate (accessed on September 2012)
  8. ↑ Alta Via delle Alpi Biellesi, web page on www.montagnabiellese.com (accessed on September 2012)

External links

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