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Scanno lake is located in Abruzzo, in the lower part of the province of L’Aquila, among the Marsicani mountains, in the high valey of the Saggitario river, and it originated from an ancient landslide on the overlooking Mount Genzan, 12820-3000 years ago, that barred river Tasso.

The lake, 922 m above sea level, is surrounded by some peaks of the Marsicani Mountains, such as Montagna Grande and Monte Genzana. It has few coasts and some parts have been adapted for bathers creating artificial stone beaches. It is the biggest natural lake in the region.

Phragmitetum communis is the dominant plant, while the most common aquatic specie of the lake is Phragmites australis; among the vessels, where the water gets more oxygen from small incoming rivers, there are some Potamogeton natans and Callitriche stagnalis. The main tree species are Salix alba, Salix eleagnos, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Populus tremula and Tilia platyphyllos (at the mouth of river Tasso). The intensive exploitation of the surrounding ground has prevented the creation of hygrophilous woods, since the grounds were used for pasture or orchards of Malus domestica, Pyrus communis, Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus and Prunus domestica.

Source and photos: https://www.ilmartino.it/2018/02/passeggiando-labuzzo-magnifico-borgo-scanno/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)