Disastro di Molare, Hydroelectric reservoir in Valle Orba, Piedmont, Italy.
The Molare reservoir is a hydroelectric installation in the Orba Valley within the mountainous Piedmont region of northern Italy, featuring a primary dam and secondary structures. The site spans across the valley with visible dam remains and geological formations that show how past events have shaped the landscape.
The installation was built in the early 1900s as a hydroelectric facility, but suffered a catastrophic failure on August 13, 1935. After heavy rainfall, the secondary dam collapsed, causing severe flooding through the valley and permanently altering the region.
The site serves as a cautionary reference in Italian engineering education, highlighting how crucial it is to understand soil and rock conditions before building water infrastructure. Visitors walking through the valley can see how this lesson shaped the way engineers now approach dam construction and water management in the region.
The main access is via the road toward Olbicella, from where visitors can observe the remaining dam structures and geological formations. The area is accessible on foot, though visitors should be mindful of unstable terrain in certain sections.
The flood surge reached the village of Ovada in just 20 minutes after the dam gave way, carrying water and mud at tremendous speed. The event was so powerful that it left the riverbed several meters deeper than it had been before.
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