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Como lake and Mezzola Lake


The reserve is situated among two natural lakes: Como and Mezzola. In ancient times, these lakes were wider and they pushed as far as Samolaco (which literally means at the top of the lake, from the Latin "Summus Lacus") in Valchiavenna: Adda's floods built the Pian di Spagna and the river was finally canalized in 1858.
Como Lake has an important function of thermoregulation of the area: its daily cycle of warming and cooling creates constant breezes ("Breva" in the afternoon and "Tivano" in the morning) which mitigate the rigours of winters and cool summers.
Species of birds taking advantage of this favourable climatic and geographic position are numerous and ducks are the most represented: wild ducks, bald-coots, teals, dabchicks, loons and swans are the most common species to be observed, especially during the winter when the vegetation is bare.
Seagulls, cormorants and herons are ordinary presences which cannot be unnoticed.
Typical fish of Como Lake are: allis shad (Alosa fallax lacustris), and lake trout (Salmo trutta lacustris), a giant who can reach a meter of length and feeds on other fishes.