Lake Smeraldo

The 10 mile square metre lake is in Fondo, north of the valley at 1,001 metres.
It is an artificial lake which ties-in well to the rest of its natural environment.
It was realized recently (1964)  barring the waters of the Rio Fondo and since then has become the communities pride.

One can get quite easily to the lake by car but it’s much more pleasant to take a walk from Fondo town. The narrow canyon of the Molini valley (“the canyon walk”), which is 300 metres long and 60 metres deep joins the centre of the town (from the parish church) to the lake: a spectacular canyon of the Rio Sass with concretions, potholes and fossils. The rocky walls were dug to make this path. It is well equipped with hand-railings and lighting for the evening. Along the way you see an antique well, a Roman bridge and the reconstruction of an old mill.

Other paths, leaving from the lake are the ones to Sedruna (20 minutes) and to Madonna Brusada (20 minutes) or to Orto Botanico of extraordinary beauty where you can also admire the panorama (20 minutes).

The more difficult paths are the n° 517 from Fondo to Lake Tret (2 and a half hours and a difference in level of 550 metres) or to Monte Macaion following path n° 513 (2 and a half hours and a difference in level of 870 metres).