Lago Fedèra, Mountain lake near Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Lago Fedèra is a mountain lake nestled beneath the eastern wall of Croda da Lago in the Ampezzo Dolomites. Dense larch forests surround the water, creating a quiet alpine setting at high elevation.
The lake lies on the Monte de Federa, an old pasture for dairy sheep called fede owned by the Regole d'Ampezzo, specifically the Regola di Ambrizzola. The Croda da Lago - Gianni Palmieri shelter was built on the southern shore, and the lake now sits along the Alta Via n.1 hiking route.
The name Federa comes from the fede, the dairy sheep once grazed on the Monte de Federa meadows owned by the Regola di Ambrizzola, one of the Regole d'Ampezzo. The lake and its historic Croda da Lago – Gianni Palmieri shelter, on the southern shore along the Alta Via 1, appear on postcards as a symbol of the Dolomites.
Most visitors reach the lake on foot from a trailhead parking area along the main road above Cortina. The walk takes several hours and passes through forest and mountain terrain.
The lake is fed by underground water sources rather than visible rivers or streams. This hidden water supply keeps the level stable throughout the seasons.
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