Lago Bianco, lake at the Bernina pass in the Grisons, Switzerland
Lago Bianco is a reservoir in the Canton of the Grisons, situated at the Bernina Pass between the Val Poschiavo and the Engadine valley. The water appears milky white because fine sediments carried by glacial meltwater flow into the basin.
The reservoir was built in the early 20th century to store water for the Rhaetian Railway's power supply system, which still operates today. Its construction changed the original landscape of the Bernina Pass significantly.
The lake sits right along the Bernina Pass road and is easy to reach on foot without special equipment. Visiting between June and September gives you the best chance of snow-free access, as the pass sits at high elevation.
The name Lago Bianco, meaning White Lake in Italian, refers directly to the color of the water rather than to any local landmark or history. On some days the surface shifts from pale white to a soft turquoise depending on the angle of the sunlight and the amount of suspended sediment.
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