VALLE D'AOSTA	Back to Italy
Provinces -   Region formed by a province: Aosta Chief town - Aosta Surface - kmq 3262 National Parks - National Park of Gran Paradiso (1922) Russian Version

	Origin of the Name
	Reliefs - Passes - Coasts - Islands
	Landscape
	Agriculture - Stock-Farm - Fishing
	Industry - Tourism
	Position and Frontier
	Rivers - Lakes
	Climate
	Population
	Communication

Origin of the name:
Romans after having defeated Salassi, a Gallic population that lived in the valley of Baltea in 25 before Christ,  founded a city where rose a camp. It had called in honor of Ottaviano Augusto, August Praetoria and from that name it derives the actual name of the Region and the city of it: Aosta.

Reliefs - Passes - Coasts - Islands:

It is surrounded from Alps Graie where we find the Group of Gran Paradiso and of White Mountain and from Alps Pennine with Cervino Mountain and Rosa Mountain. Entirely the whole mountainous region is picked around the valley formed by Baltea Baltea, where others numerous valleys are found: Val Ferree, Valley of Gran St. Bernard, Val Tournanche, Val of Ayas, the Valley Gressoney, to the right Valley of Thuile, Valgrisanche, Valsavaranche and Val of Cogne. The natural passes more important that allow of to overcome the tall mountainous chain are Small St. Bernard that connects Italy to France and Footstep of Gran St. Bernard that connects Valley of Aosta to Switzerland. These footsteps are found to very tall altitudes over the 2000 ms. , therefore good part of the year they are not passable because of the snow and of the ice. Already Romans used these footsteps as street of transit of the city of Aosta.

The steinbock has become the symbol of the   National Park of Gran Paradiso

Landscape:
In the smallest region of Italy there are the tallest mountains of Europe. The aspect of Val of Aosta is that typical of the tall mountain with narrow and rocky throats, tall points, snow and perennial glaciers, colored lawns, pastures, woods, small villages, typical houses, luxurious hotels and roads with steep inclinations.

Agriculture - Stock-farm - Fishing:
The geographical structure allows of take advantage of little cultivable areas. The crops are only those characteristics of mountain or rather potatoes, rye, apples and pears. The most important crop is however that of the forage for the breeding of cattle, therefore the production of meat is notable, of butter and cheeses, besides all the milk products.

Industry - Tourism:

View of the Castle of Fénis

The presence of a lot of water has developed the hydroelectric industry, which has produced in excess to the local requirements and it is carried therefore also in Piedmont. Important are also the iron, chemical and mineral industries with the zone of Cogne and La Thuile where the iron is extracted for the production of special steels. Placed in the peaks of Europe, Valley of Aosta is one of the tourist zones more cared and famous of Europe. Thanks to the good organization and hotel management, to the skiing stations with the modern fittings of gone up again, to the shelters and the qualified personnel as teachers and alpine guides, Valley of Aosta assures the tourism almost all the year and therefore it guarantees over that to the places of employment also a huge income, to which the famous casino of St. Vincent also contributes.

Position and Frontier:
The region has dipped between Alps Graie and Alps Pennine. It confines to north and west (political border of Italy) with France and Switzerland, to east and to south with Piedmont, of which geographically makes part of it.

Rivers - Lakes:
The principal river is Dora Baltea with many small natural tributaries that in the time have dug some side valleys, meeting all to thorn of fish in Basin of Dora Baltea.

Climate:
The climate is typical of the alpine regions: cold rigid of winter and coolness in summer. In the period from October in March snows abundantly, is in tall mountain that in the valleys.

Population:
The population has installed especially in the valley bottom and along the course of Dora Baltea. Around a third alive in the city of Aosta, the rest in small countries and suburbs around the city. The greatest part of the inhabitants speaks a French dialect, the frank-Provenzal patois and the bilingualism has recognized officially, also in the public and administrative actions. The schools have the obligation to teach the French language. A small minority that is found in Valley of Gressoney speaks the German language and the inhabitants are called Wals.

Communication:
With the opening of the two piercing, that of Gran St. Bernard and that of White Mountain inaugurated in 1963, a big economic advantage was had for the region. The highway connects Aosta to Turin. There are no international railway nets, only a regional line that crossing the region, departing from Ivrea and arrives to Pré St. Didier next to Courmayeur.

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