Llacs de Tristaina, Three mountain lakes in Ordino, Andorra.
The Llacs de Tristaina are three natural mountain lakes at different elevations between 2,246 and 2,330 meters in Ordino valley. Each lake displays distinct features: the lower one reveals deep blue waters, the middle sits within rocky debris slopes, and the upper forms a nearly circular basin.
These lakes formed during the last glacial period when glaciers carved deep basins into the Pyrenean mountainside of northern Andorra. The ice movements shaped the terrain into the chain of water bodies visible today.
The Arcalis 91 monument nearby features a large steel ring by sculptor Mauro Staccioli that merges natural and geometric forms in the mountain setting. Visitors can encounter this contemporary art piece while walking through the high-altitude environment, creating a dialogue between modern creation and the landscape.
The round-trip hiking route is approximately four kilometers long and takes about three hours to complete. Average fitness is sufficient, but visitors should prepare for uneven terrain, elevation changes, and variable mountain weather conditions.
The lakes remain frozen during most of the year, staying ice-covered except in warmer months, which reveals the harsh conditions at this altitude. The trail passes through alpine meadows and rocky fields where visitors can spot rare mountain plants and golden eagles soaring above the terrain.
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