Lago di Dobbiaco

At the mouth of the Landro valley, Lake Dobbiaco fills a basin formed by ancient rockfalls. Its reedy shallows provide habitat for nesting water birds and rare migrants.

Why it matters

Lake Dobbiaco is one of the few surviving wetlands in South Tyrol. Its shallow, reed-fringed basin provides habitat where water birds rest and breed, including species that nest only sporadically in the province.

What to notice

The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of about 3.5 metres and an area of roughly 14.3 hectares. Reed beds fringe the shore, where migratory birds stop in spring and autumn. Five bunkers built in 1939 as part of the Alpine Wall defences remain around the lake.

Context and history

Rockfalls formed the lake basin at the entrance to the Landro valley. The lake lies between the landscapes of the Three Peaks and Fanes-Senes-Braies nature parks. The circuit path includes interpretive stations on flora, fauna and geology. Historically, the lake froze in winter for skating and curling, with cross-country tracks nearby.