Lac de Melu, Glacial lake in Haute-Corse, France

Lac de Melu (Lavu di Melu in Corsican) is a glacial lake in the upper Restonica valley, about 10 km from Corte. It lies at 1,710 m, covers 6.5 ha and reaches a maximum depth of 20 m. The lake is frozen about six months a year and gives rise to the Restonica, a tributary of the Tavignano.

The lake formed through glacial erosion during earlier ice ages, when massive ice sheets carved and shaped the mountainous terrain of Haute-Corse. This geological past created the basin that holds water today.

The lake is called Lavu di Melu in Corsican, the island language still used for place names in the Restonica valley. The name appears alongside French forms on maps and in the hiking brochure distributed at the Office de Tourisme, so walkers meet both versions on signs and in guides.

Since the November 2023 storms, the road to the Bergeries de Grotelle has collapsed from the Tragone bridge, so the hike now starts at La Frassetta (900 m). Allow about 7 hours round trip to Lac de Melo, plus 1.5 hours for Lac de Capitello. A shuttle serves La Frassetta from 2 May to 30 September; the Grotelle bergerie sits at 1,400 m.

Scientists discovered a previously unknown bacterial species in the lake waters and named it after the location. These microscopic organisms show how isolated mountain lakes develop their own ecosystems.