Lago di Tovel, Ramsar protected lake in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Lago di Tovel is a lake within Parco naturale provinciale dell'Adamello Brenta in Trentino-Alto Adige at 1180 meters elevation. It measures roughly 1000 meters in length and 570 meters in width, surrounded by forested slopes and rock walls.
The lake was recognized by the Ramsar Convention in 1980 as a wetland of international importance. Until the 1960s, the water turned red each summer due to the growth of a specific type of algae.
The name Tovel comes from the Nones dialect and likely refers to a flat board or plank, possibly describing the lake's shallow edges. Visitors often pause on the wooden walkways and viewing platforms along the shore to watch the clear water and take in the calm surroundings.
Several marked hiking trails of different difficulty levels circle the shore and provide access to viewpoints. The best time to visit is early morning or late summer, when fewer visitors are around and the light is soft.
The red water disappeared after the 1960s, likely due to changes in nutrient levels or water temperature. Scientists still study the exact causes of this shift in the lake today.
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