Lake Campotosto reserve, State nature reserve in Province of L'Aquila, Italy.
Lake Campotosto is a large reservoir in the Apennines sitting above 1,300 meters elevation with a lengthy shoreline and clear waters. Mountain ridges surround the lake and create several pathways for walking and exploring different parts of the protected area.
The lake was created in the 1940s by building a dam for hydroelectric power, flooding marshy ground that was once there. The area received protected status in 1984 and became an important refuge for wildlife and plants.
The reserve shows visitors how mountain life works and what animals make their home here. You see birds, insects, and fish living in the alpine setting and how they depend on each other.
You can enter the reserve from several points and find parking at each location. Marked trails take you through different sections depending on how long you want to walk and what you want to see.
The lake is not reliably frozen solid: the source only notes that in winter it is often found partly or completely frozen. The reserve also protects 200 hectares of shoreline, and the artificial lake was filled between 1939 and 1940, flooding former marshes and peat bogs.
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