Lago di Mergozzo, Alpine lake in Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy
Lago di Mergozzo is an alpine lake in Piedmont, situated near Lago Maggiore in the Lepontine Alps. The water is exceptionally clear and surrounded by steep shorelines and dense vegetation, creating a sheltered basin between mountain slopes.
The lake formed about 500 years ago when sediment from the Toce River created a natural barrier that separated it from Lago Maggiore. This geological shift transformed what was once a connected waterway into an independent body.
The village of Sasso preserves a sense of continuity, with stone houses that have occupied the same spot for thousands of years. People here have shaped their lives around the lake, visible in how buildings face toward the water and use the shore naturally.
Swimming, canoeing, and fishing are allowed, while motorboats are prohibited to keep the water clean and safe. Access is easy from the village of Mergozzo, and the gentle shorelines offer plenty of spots to rest and enter the water.
An ancient hollow elm tree stands by the shore and is officially recognized as a monumental tree of Piedmont. The tree has survived for centuries and catches visitors' attention with its unusual hollowed-out form.
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