Lac de Capitellu, Glacial lake in Haute-Corse mountains, France
Lac de Capitellu is a glacial lake nestled in the Haute-Corse mountains at an elevation of approximately 1,930 meters, surrounded by granite peaks. The water sits in a deep basin carved into the rock, with steep slopes rising directly from its shores.
The lake basin was carved by glaciers during the Quaternary period, when ice sheets shaped the mountains of northern Corsica. As the climate warmed, these glaciers retreated and left behind the deep water-filled depression that exists today.
Shepherds from the Restonica Valley have moved their flocks through this area seasonally for centuries, and their pastoral traditions remain visible in how the mountains are used today. The paths and grazing patterns they follow connect this lake to the broader rhythm of mountain life.
Visitors reach the lake by following marked hiking trails that climb steeply from lower elevations, with metal chains and steps installed on the most demanding sections. The route demands physical effort and good footwear, as loose rocks and steep terrain require careful footing throughout.
With depths reaching 42 meters, this is the deepest natural lake on the entire island of Corsica, a distinction that sets it apart from all other bodies of water in the region. Few visitors realize just how much water is held beneath the surface of what appears to be a modest alpine pool.
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