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| Ossola | |
|---|---|
| Val d'Ossola Valle Ossola | |
 Middle valley panorama | |
 Location of the valley in Piedmont, NWItaly | |
| Floor elevation | 200–4.609 m (656.17–15.12 ft) |
| Long-axis direction | N - S |
| Naming | |
| Native name | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola,Italy |
TheOssola (Italian:[ˈɔssola];Ossolano:Òssola), alsoValle Ossola orVal d'Ossola (Walser:Eschetaal;German:Eschental), is an area ofNorthwest Italy situated to the north ofLago Maggiore. It lies within theProvince of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Its principal river is theToce, and its most important townDomodossola.
There are many etymological claims as to the origins of the nameOssola, the most likely beingCeltic for "high lands". The German and Walser names for the valley translate to "valley of theash trees".
Ossola is composed of one main valley (the Ossola proper) and seven side valleys:Anzasca,Antrona,Bognanco,Divedro,Antigorio,Formazza,Isorno andVigezzo.
It is surrounded by thePennine Alps on the western side and by theLepontine Alps on the northern and eastern sides.
The main towns areDomodossola,Villadossola,Crevoladossola,Ornavasso andMergozzo.
Ossola’s highest elevation is theNordend, a peak of theMonte Rosa Massif, which is also the highest peak ofPiedmont. Excluding the Monte Rosa's peaks, other important mountains are thePizzo d'Andolla, theMonte Leone, theCorno Cieco and, in the lower part of the valley, theMonte Capezzone and theMonte Massone.
It is home to theAlpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park,Alta Valle Antrona Natural Park and also includes parts of theVal Grande National Park, Italy’s largest wilderness area.[1]
In 1944, with theAllies of World War II still stuck south of theApennines andBenito Mussolini'sItalian Social Republic controlling all ofNorthern Italy, theItalian partisans staged an uprising behind German lines, led by theCommittee of National Liberation of Upper Italy. This rebellion led to the establishment of a number of provisional partisan governments throughout Northern Italy, of which theFree Republic of Ossola was the most prominent.[2] It received official recognition fromSwitzerland and from Allied consulates in Switzerland.[citation needed] Within a few weeks, German reinforcements had crushed the uprising, and the area's liberation had to wait until the final offensives of 1945.
46°17′N8°21′E / 46.283°N 8.350°E /46.283; 8.350
