Lago di Ariamacina, body of water
Lago di Ariamacina is a reservoir in the Province of Cosenza in the Sila mountains of Calabria. Built between 1953 and 1955 for hydroelectric power by damming the Neto River, it sits at about 4170 feet (1270 m) on a high plateau and covers roughly 1.2 square kilometers (0.46 sq mi). Dense forests of beech, fir, and pine trees surround the water, along with open mountain meadows, making the artificial lake blend naturally into the landscape.
The lake was built in the 1950s as part of regional hydroelectric development, when dams and reservoirs were created to harness water power across the Sila. In 2002, the environmental organization Legambiente designated the area as the Ariamacina Oasis, establishing one of the first protected wetland sites for migratory birds in southern Italy.
The name Ariamacina reflects the local geography and mountain setting of this body of water in Calabria. Today it serves as a gathering place for birdwatchers and nature lovers who come to experience the quiet rhythms of the Sila's wildlife and forests.
The lake sits on a high mountain plateau and is accessible via the Strada Statale 107 Silana; take the Germano exit and follow the road along the northern shore. Trails around the water are easy to walk and suitable for quiet strolls through the surrounding forests and along the shoreline.
The lake is home to one of Italy's few nesting sites for the great crested grebe and shelters mountain frogs, smooth snakes, and vipers that find refuge in its wetlands. A dedicated birdwatching platform with telescopes on the shoreline is one of southern Italy's first stations of its kind.
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