Lago Gabiet

Lago Gabiet is a high-altitude reservoir above Staffal in the Gressoney valley, set in a rocky basin beneath the Monte Rosa range. Built for hydroelectric production, it combines an engineered landscape with the surrounding Alpine scenery.

Why it matters

The lake records the development of hydroelectric infrastructure in the Lys valley. Its dam and reservoir belong to the early twentieth-century effort to harness mountain water for power, while the surrounding basin remains defined by the high peaks of Monte Rosa.

What to notice

The reservoir is held by a large masonry dam and a smaller earth embankment. The scale of the barriers contrasts with the steep mountain walls around the basin. The lake sits beneath the Lyskamm ridge and the peaks of Breithorn, Castore and Polluce.

Context and history

Construction of the dam took place between 1919 and 1923, and the hydroelectric plant beside the lake dates to 1921. The reservoir was formally tested in 1938. Later upgrades modernised the plant, and the penstock was replaced along a new alignment in work completed in 2017. The surrounding valley is also part of the historic settlement landscape of the Walser community.