Longarone

Longarone
Longarone
	— Comune —
Comune di Longarone
	The Vajont Dam as seen from Longarone today, showing approximately the top 60-70 metres of concrete.
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	Longarone Location of Longarone in Italy
	Coordinates: 46°16′N 12°18′E / 46.267°N 12.3°E
Country	Italy
Region	Veneto
Province	Belluno (BL)
Frazioni	Dogna, Faè, Fortogna, Igne, Pirago-Muda Maè, Provagna, Rivalta, Roggia, Soffranco
	Government
• Mayor	Roberto Padrin
	Area
• Total	103 km2 (40 sq mi)
Elevation	473 m (1,552 ft)
	Population (31 December 2008)
• Total	4,073
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Demonym	Longaronesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	32013
Dialing code	0437
Patron saint	Santa Maria
Saint day	8 December
Website	Official website

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Longarone is a town and comune on the banks of the Piave in the province of Belluno, in North-East Italy. It is situated 35 kilometers from Belluno.

4,642 people work altogether in Longarone, which is 112.62% of the total population, with most actual inhabitants working within the village.

[edit] Geography

The town is located on a road linking Belluno to Cortina d'Ampezzo, close to the borders of Veneto with Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Its nearest villages are Castellavazzo, Casso and Erto.

[edit] History

Longarone was the site of a battle in World War I, In which a few companies of German troops lead by Erwin Rommel successfully captured an entire Italian Division of over 10,000, retreating after the Battle of Kobarid (Caporetto). Rommel was awarded his pour le merite medal for this achievement.

The village was destroyed in the Vajont disaster on October 9, 1963, when a landslide from Monte Toc forced 50 million cubic metres of water (seiche) over the top of the Vajont Dam. Longarone lay in the immediate path of the wave of mud and water which swept into the valley below. 1,909 villagers were killed.

Longarone was rebuilt following the tragedy and is now once again a thriving community. The fortieth anniversary of the disaster was marked, in October 2003, by a commemorative ceremony in Longarone attended by President of the Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.