Lake Carezza
An emerald in the valley
The Lake Carezza surrounded by the thick forest of the Latemar forest giving way to the craggy peaks of the Dolomites, Lago di Carezza is a mountain lake shimmering in a thousand shades of green, blue and turquoise. It was once, according to a legend, home to a beautiful mermaid whose spurned lover cast jewels into the waters and thus created its incredible colours. There is a walking path around the lake ideal for families with children. Don’t forget to bring along your camera or phone to snap a few pictures to show your friends back home.
Here are a few fun facts about the lake:
Did you know that the Lake Carezza...
...is 300 metres long, 140 metres wide and up to 22 metres deep?
...is protected under law and lies at 1,520 metres above sea level?
...is fed by underground springs in the Latemar mountains, meaning its size and depth changes with the weather and the seasons?
...is home to a statue of the legendary nymph Ondina? She can be found perched on a rock in the middle of the lake and only appears when the water level is low.
...reflects the Latemar and Rosengarten/Catinaccio mountains early in the morning, when the peaks dance on the surface of the water?
...has drawn famous names to the region including Winston Churchill and Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary?
...takes its name from the Old High German word “char” meaning “receptacle”? The word was also used to refer to a dip in the landscape at the foot of a mountain chain.
...is in the Ladin language also known as the “Lec de Ergobando” (“Rainbow Lake”) thanks to its incredible colours?
...has a little brother? If you follow trail number 12 for around 20 minutes you will reach a small lake called the Mittersee. This lake only appears in spring when the snow in the mountains melts and the water gathers here. The views of the Latemar mountains are fantastic, but only the bravest visitors dare to take swim in the 8°C waters.
