Lago di Lucendro, reservoir
Lago di Lucendro is a reservoir at high elevation in the Ticino mountains near Airolo. The water spans a small basin surrounded by rocky slopes and peaks, with a concrete dam rising about 240 feet (73 m) high that was completed in 1947.
The reservoir was created in 1947 when a dam was built to store water for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. This project reflected post-war efforts to develop mountain resources and supply electricity to nearby towns and industries in the region.
The name Lucendro refers to features of this mountain area in the local language. Visitors use the lakeshore as a place to pause and experience the quiet and fresh mountain air that defines life at this altitude.
Easy trails circle the lakeshore, while more challenging routes climb toward Lucendro Pass through rocky terrain and alpine meadows. The site is accessible by car over the Gotthard Pass, with paths marked for different skill levels and a trail from San Carlo that leads gently to the dam.
The lake often freezes solid in winter, creating a rare landscape of ice and snow that transforms the entire appearance of the site. Visitors frequently spot marmots and alpine birds around the rocky shores, which thrive in this remote high-altitude setting.
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