Going to lakes. In Italy there are many in the north but also in the center and south, albeit with different characteristics and with profoundly different origins. Here are five lakes Italians to see, more or less known. In the midst of many natural beauties, our territory is also rich in lake basins, from north to south.
The turquoise water of the Sorapis lake
In Veneto there is a small lake in the Dolomites that is difficult to reach but which rewards, once at the top, for its beauty and for the extraordinary context of mountains that surrounds it. Let's talk about the Sorapis lake, a jewel with turquoise waters located at high altitude, almost 2000 meters above sea level.
It is a small alpine lake that can be reached from Passo Tre Croci (climbing from Cortina d'Ampezzo) for a mainly uphill path that requires at least two hours of walking. Lake Sorapis is surrounded by a truly unique Dolomite amphitheater. In September the Dolomites - on fine days - perhaps give the best of their beauty. So we are in the right and least crowded time to reach it. It should be noted that at the top (but hidden from the lake) there is also an equipped refuge.
The largest volcanic lake in Europe
Il Lake Bolsena, above Lazio on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, it is the largest volcanic basin in Europe. With its typical very regular round shape, it is the fifth of the Italian lakes by size.
Two islands emerge from its waters, the Bisentina island and the Martana island. Olive groves, vineyards and cultivated fields enrich its coasts. Lake Bolsena is a destination rich in naturalistic and historical itineraries, its villages offer splendid views of the lake. The most famous is that of Capodimonte.
Between the mountains and the sea, the lakes of the Gargano
The entrance to the Gargano promontory is truly fascinating, following it on the north side towards Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste. On the one hand, the mountains that in these parts reach almost a thousand meters. On the other hand, the Adriatic Sea. And between the sea and the mountains are the two lakes of Lesina and Varano. Two lakes, but it would perhaps be more correct to call them lagoons because their water is brackish, as the contiguity with the sea is practically immediate. The Lesina lake, the first encountered when taking the promontory, is a coastal basin that runs parallel to the coast and whose waters are communicating with the Adriatic Sea. It is famous for the Nature Reserve of the same name. A small hill separates it from the nearby lake of Varano. And this is also the charm of the two bodies of water, one next to the other.
After passing the small Monte D'Elio, here is the Varano lake, the largest basin in southern Italy and the seventh among Italian lakes. A very narrow strip of land (one kilometer wide) separates it from the Adriatic Sea where the Natural Reserve of the island of Varano is located. This mixture of sea, lagoon and sources of fresh water that come from the nearby mountains of the Gargano and that feed it, make the place a habitat of great naturalistic interest.
Avernus, for the ancients the door to the afterlife
On the waters of the lake Averno, in Campania, history and legend intertwine. This lake, of very ancient origin, was formed in the basin of an extinct volcano. It is located in the area of Campi Flegrei and it is the second, by size, of the Campania lakes. Its history and its charm derive from the very “lively” geological characteristics of this territory.
The ancients thought that here was the entrance to Hades. The history of the Cumaean Sibyl is linked to Lake Averno, but also other references to Greek mythology and Roman history. Today this body of water is a naturalistic oasis populated by fish and birds, rich in plant species. In the past, its waters gave off sulphurous vapors that did not allow animals to live on its banks. The visit to the lake is the starting point for an archaeological walk to the sites found in this area.
On the Sila the Ampollino lake
In addition to natural lakes, among the lakes to see in Italy there are numerous artificial basins - created for the hydroelectric exploitation of waterways - which over time have taken on very important tourist and environmental characteristics.
Among these, some are located in Calabria. The Ampollino lake is an artificial basin built in the XNUMXs, the first of its kind on the plateau of Sila. Located at 1271 meters above sea level, it blocks the course of the Ampollino river with a 39 meters high dam. In these parts the nature is very luxuriant and the Ampollino lake is one of the obligatory stops when visiting the Sila National Park.
