Piediluco
Lake Piediluco: the largest natural lake basin in Umbria after Lake Trasimeno
Lake Piediluco, located in central Italy, is the largest natural lake basin in Umbria after Lake Trasimeno. With an area of 1.85 km², the lake is located in the southeastern foothills of Umbria, with a branch that extends into Lazio. The name of the lake seems to suggest "at the foot of the sacred forest". Together with the lakes Lago Lungo, Lago di Ripasottile and Lago di Ventina, it represents one of the remnants of the ancient Lacus Velinus, a large alluvial basin that formed during the Quaternary period.
The irregularly shaped lake and its location
Lake Piediluco has an irregular shape with a perimeter of about 13 kilometers, it is located at an altitude of 375 meters and has a maximum depth of about 19 meters. Its natural tributary is the Fuscello stream, while the other two tributaries are man-made canals, one of which connects it to the Velino river, and the other, which is almost 42 kilometers long and mostly underground, channels a portion of the Nera river's waters into the lake. The lake's outlet is the Velino river, which is diverted towards Marmore where it flows into the Nera, forming the Marmore waterfall. The flow and discharge of its waters are entirely regulated to meet the energy needs of the industries in the nearby city of Terni.
History of Lake Piediluco
In protohistoric and Roman times, Lake Piediluco was called "Septem Aquae", referring to the seven arms that form the lake. Dionysius of Halicarnassus refers to a place called "Sette Acque" near Marruvium, a city of the Aborigines located between Marruvium and Terni. In 54 BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero was called to defend the Reatini against the flooding of the fields of the city of Terni caused by the Nera river. Cicero was brought to the "Septem Aquae" area, near the Roman outlet.
Lake Piediluco is also the site of an important hoard from the Late Bronze Age (12th-11th century BC). In the hoard, now preserved in the Pigorini Museum in Rome, were found knives and fragmentary fibulae, chisels and fragmentary bronze sickles, fragmentary spearheads, whole or fragmentary winged axes in bronze. In addition, swords, horse bits, scythes, chisels, a cartwheel, and fragments of a tripod from Cyprus were also discovered. The presence of this hoard along the lake's coastline led to the hypothesis of a sudden abandonment that occurred in the early Iron Age, perhaps due to "dramatic" or warlike events, as suggested by the unfound three other hoards.
Conclusions
Lake Piediluco is a charming and unique destination, where history and nature blend together. The lake's location and width make it an ideal place for outdoor activities such as canoeing and water games, but also for relaxation and contemplation of the beauty of nature. Lake Piediluco is a must-see destination for tourists and enthusiasts, but also for those who live nearby, as this is an unmissable portion of Umbria, a region that preserves many natural and cultural wonders worth visiting and discovering.
