Lago di Lavarone

Lake Lavarone lies at about 1,080 metres on the Lavarone plateau. The small alpine basin occupies a karst hollow formed by the collapse of a dolina and is fed by springs. Its water drains through underground channels that re-emerge in the waterfalls of the Centa valley.

Why it matters

The lake’s geology and hydrology link the plateau’s limestone landscape with the Centa valley below. Wood and roots recovered from the lakebed have been dated to around 210 BC, giving the basin a long record of environmental change.

What to notice

The lake covers about 64,000 square metres and reaches a maximum depth of 17 metres. Its basin is set within the open landscape of the plateau, with wooded slopes and settlements around the shore. The karst hollow and underground drainage explain the lake’s relationship with the surrounding terrain.

Context and history

A local legend tells of a forest that sank beneath the water. The lakebed wood and root remains are real evidence from the basin’s past, while the dolina collapse explains how the lake formed. The lake is part of the natural landscape of the Alpe Cimbra plateau in Trentino.