Lake Biandronno
A lake and peat-bog of important natural and environmental importance.
Lake Biandronno is in a small basin of obviously glacial origins, set on the north-western lip of Lake Varese, from which it is separated by a narrow ridge of limestone. The nature reserve, covering 128.2 hectares, mostly owned by the Province of Varese, is virtually the only remaining example of a lake that has reached the last phase of its life: from geographical and morphological points of view, the entire natural system consists of an evocative, compact series of helophytes (areas of reed-beds and fen wetlands), surrounded by hydrophilic forests and water meadows, in which the lakes deriving from peat excavation can be readily observed.
The lake is supplied purely by rain. The only outflow is an artificial channel named the Gatto stream, which runs the short distance to Lake Varese.
Local fauna comprises the bird species typical of reed-beds, such as the reed warbler, the great reed warbler and Savi's warbler, while the marsh harrier is the most common bird of prey. The few areas of water unbroken by vegetation are home to many species of ducks, geese and swans.
As regards flora, the sections of greatest interest are the reed beds, while the eastern part of the area comprises a large fen with an exceptional variety of plants.
Lake Biandronno is in a small basin of obviously glacial origins, set on the north-western lip of Lake Varese, from which it is separated by a narrow ridge of limestone. The nature reserve, covering 128.2 hectares, mostly owned by the Province of Varese, is virtually the only remaining example of a lake that has reached the last phase of its life: from geographical and morphological points of view, the entire natural system consists of an evocative, compact series of helophytes (areas of reed-beds and fen wetlands), surrounded by hydrophilic forests and water meadows, in which the lakes deriving from peat excavation can be readily observed.
The lake is supplied purely by rain. The only outflow is an artificial channel named the Gatto stream, which runs the short distance to Lake Varese.
Local fauna comprises the bird species typical of reed-beds, such as the reed warbler, the great reed warbler and Savi's warbler, while the marsh harrier is the most common bird of prey. The few areas of water unbroken by vegetation are home to many species of ducks, geese and swans.
As regards flora, the sections of greatest interest are the reed beds, while the eastern part of the area comprises a large fen with an exceptional variety of plants.
Foto di Luca Leone
