Lake Mezzola

Lake Mezzola, which is situated at the entrance of Valchiavenna, was a single basin with Lake Como in Roman age. Later on, the material brought with the frequent floods of the Adda River started accumulating and formed the Pian di Spagna. The lake ecosystem is today safeguarded by the Natural Reserve of Pian di Spagna - Lago di Mezzola. The area has humid areas with reed-beds, clover meadows, pastures and farming land. The most widespread plant is the common reed, which is sometimes accompanied by the less common broadleaf cattail. The real heritage of the reserve is represented by nesting and peregrine birdlife, which consists of about 200 different species. The lake waters are inhabited by various species of fish, including basses, pikes, burbots, trouts, lake shads and eels. A small population of deer living inside the reserve is also worth mentioning.