Lake Tovel

The triangle-shaped Lake Tovel is located in the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park and spans a length of 1 km, a width of 500 m and a depth of 38.5 metres. Surrounded by dense forests and the majestic peaks of the Brenta Dolomites, Lake Tovel formed following a landslide in 1300. The lake is fed by the Rio Santa Maria di Flavona and the Rislà stream which froms a small waterfall in the proximity of the lake. The water of the lake appears in different shades of blue and green, however, it gained its fame thanks to its typical and unusual red colour.

In past times, its water turned red during summer time due to a still unexplained natural phenomenon. However, this natural occurrence is supposed to having been caused by the dinoflagellate alga ‘Glenodinium sanguineum’ . Unfortunately, this natural attraction ceased to exist in 1964, perhaps due to a significant decrease in the amount of these algae which continue to live in the lake. Despite having lost its red colour, the lake is still a highly sought-after spot in the mountains.