Lac de Nino, Glacial lake in Haute-Corse, France.
Lac de Nino is a glacial lake high in the Corsican mountains at about 1,743 meters elevation, covering roughly 0.065 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 12 meters. The water sits in a mountain basin surrounded by green meadows interrupted by small water-filled depressions.
The lake formed during past glacial periods when ice sheets carved out the mountain basin lying between the communes of Casamaccioli and Corte. This geological process was part of the broader shaping of the Corsican highlands over thousands of years.
Shepherds have traditionally used the meadows around the lake to graze their herds, and wild horses roam freely among the pozzines that mark the landscape. This long-standing practice continues to shape how the area looks and functions today.
The lake can be reached from several hiking trails, including the famous GR20 long-distance path, with the main approach via the Vergio mountain pass. The best time to visit is during the warmer months when the trail is clear and the meadows are green.
The water is surrounded by a mosaic of small grass squares separated by water-filled holes known as pozzines, creating a striking checkerboard pattern. This unusual layout forms naturally from the way water and ice interact across the alpine meadows.
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