Étang de Palo, Coastal lagoon in Serra-di-Fiumorbo, France
The Étang de Palo is a shallow coastal lagoon along eastern Corsica, spanning a large area with water typically reaching just 1 meter (3 feet) in depth. A sandbar separates it from the Tyrrhenian Sea, creating a partially enclosed environment where fresh and salt water mix.
The lagoon was born during the early post-ice age period when sand and sediment accumulated along the coast, slowly isolating a coastal basin from the sea. This gradual geological shift created the enclosed body of water we see today.
Local people have fished here for generations, catching eels and mullet from the shallow water. This practice remains central to how the community uses and values the lagoon today.
Visit during clear weather since the open landscape offers little shelter from sun and wind. Wear sturdy footwear to navigate the soft sand and wet ground safely.
The wetland attracts numerous bird species that stop here during migration and breeding seasons. This makes it an important destination for anyone interested in observing wild birds in their natural setting.
Location: Serra-di-Fiumorbo
Elevation above the sea: 0 m
Part of: étang de Palo
GPS coordinates: 41.94640,9.40639
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:46
This collection connects the mountainous interior of Corsica with remote coastal sections and historical traces of early settlement. Hiking trails pass through forests and over passes to places largely untouched by mass tourism. The route includes granite formations rising from the sea and megalithic sites several thousand years old. In the mountains lie lakes of glacial origin, surrounded by pine trees and steep rock faces. Along the coast stand Genoese towers, once used for defense and now serving as landmarks. Beaches of pale sand or pebbles are often accessible only on foot or by boat. The collection leads to places such as Filitosa, where carved stelae stand among olive trees, the Calanche cliffs near Piana, whose reddish rocks are oddly shaped, and the Aiguilles de Bavella, rock spires rising above pine forests. The Scandola nature reserve extends along a jagged coastline, accessible only from the water. Monte Cinto is the island's highest peak and offers views over valleys and bays. Isolated coves such as Saleccia or Plage du Lotu lie behind hills and maquis scrubland. The collection also includes abandoned villages such as Occi, waterfalls dropping into natural pools, and trails through the Fango valley, where the river flows between granite boulders.
Cascade de Buja
13.7 km
Église Saint-Michel de Ghisonaccia
7.7 km
Plage de Vignale
7.8 km
Bird-Tree
10.5 km
Église Saint-Antoine Abbé de San-Gavino-di-Fiumorbo
12.1 km
Église Sainte-Marie de Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo
9.9 km
Église de l'Annonciation d'Isolaccio-di-Fiumorbo
12.1 km
Église de Ventiseri
6.1 km
Église de Pietrapola
9.9 km
Église Saint-Paul de Solenzara
12.5 km
Église San Lorenzo de Serra-di-Fiumorbo
7.2 km
Église Saint-Jacques de Chisa
12 km
Château de Coasina
4.1 km
Wild pistachio
10.8 km
Chapelle Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie de Ventiseri
5.2 km
Chapelle San Chirgu de Serra-di-Fiumorbo
7 km
Chapelle Saint-Antoine de Poggio-di-Nazza
13.9 km
Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Solaro
8 km
U Listincu
10.8 km
Chapelle San Michele du château de Covasina
4 km
Chapelle d'Acciani
11.9 km
Chapelle Sainte-Lucie d'Isolaccio
11.9 km
Chapelle Saint-Roch d'Isolaccio
12 km
Chapelle Saint-Pancrace de Travo
3.9 km
Chapelle Sainte-Marie d'Ania
10.2 km
Chapelle d'Ajola
13.9 km
Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite de Contra
5.9 km
Golf de la Base Aérienne 126
3.3 kmReviews
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