Laghi Gemelli, Alpine lake in Branzi, Italy
Laghi Gemelli is a mountain reservoir in the Bergamo Alps, sitting at around 1,950 meters above sea level, in the municipality of Branzi. It occupies a tight glacial basin ringed by steep rock faces and alpine pastures, with a dam holding the water on the downhill side.
The two natural lakes that once filled this basin were joined into a single reservoir during the 20th century by the construction of a dam. The operation changed the outline of the basin and brought the site into the regional water supply network.
The name means "twin lakes" in Italian, recalling the two separate water bodies that once existed side by side. Walking along the shore today, it is hard to tell where one ended and the other began, as the water surface feels completely continuous.
The lake is reached on foot via trail 215 from the Brembana Valley, starting near the Mezzeno mountain cabin above Roncobello. The walk takes about two hours and calls for sturdy footwear and some experience on mountain terrain.
The lake serves as the official starting point of the Eastern Orobie Ring, a multi-day trail connecting several mountain refuges that can be walked in different combinations. Arriving early in the morning, before other hikers appear, the water surface is often completely still and mirrors the surrounding rock faces.
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