Viverone
Lake Viverone: a wonder of Piedmont
Lake Viverone, also known as Lagh dël Vivron in the Piedmontese language, is a beautiful place located in Piedmont, Italy. It is the third largest lake in Piedmont and extends from the extreme north-eastern part of Canavese to the southernmost part of the province of Biella. It takes its name from the homonymous municipality.
Geographical location
Lake Viverone is located in the southeastern part of the morainic Serra of Ivrea and is situated at 230 meters above sea level. Most of the water surface falls within the province of Biella, under the municipality of Viverone, while its western part falls within the metropolitan city of Turin, under the municipality of Azeglio. The shores of the lake belong to the municipality of Piverone (Lido di Anzasco), while the swampy areas extend to the west and southwest up to the Moregna peat bog, in the municipalities of Azeglio and Borgo d'Ale, in the province of Vercelli. The lake is about 16 kilometers away from Ivrea, 14 km from Santhià and 23 km from Biella.
Characteristics
Lake Viverone is a glacial lake that is part of the morainic amphitheater of Ivrea and was formed during the Quaternary era. The lake is fed both by underground waters and by some small tributaries and has as its emissary the Roggia Fola, a branch of the Roggia Violana. The name Fòla, which means "crazy" in Piedmontese, refers to the saying that the watercourse would occasionally reverse the direction of its water flow, turning from emissary to tributary. Such a saying has been debunked by a study by the Piedmont Regional Environmental Protection Agency, which detected constantly flowing water leaving the lake.
In addition to being an important resource for fishing and tourism, Lake Viverone is also an important archaeological site with prehistoric finds from the Bronze Age. In 2005 it was recognized as a community interest site under the name Lago di Viverone (protected area).
The lake covers an area of 5.72 km² and is the third largest lake in Piedmont. Its maximum depth is 50 meters, while its length is 3,470 m and its maximum width is 2,550 m. Its total perimeter measures 13.06 km, but it is not completely passable. The southwestern part is interrupted, as it is very wild, rich in flora and plain forest. On the contrary, the northern and eastern part of the lake is more urbanized, with a greater presence of tourist activities such as bars, ice cream parlors, hotels, campsites, and beaches.
Activities and tourism
Lake Viverone is a very popular tourist destination, especially during the hot seasons, when it is possible to practice various water activities such as swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and water skiing. A navigation line leads to the ports of Viverone Lido, Masseria, Comuna and Anzasco. The tourism industry has also encouraged purely tourist-landscape navigation and often tourists from the provinces of Biella, Vercelli, Canavese, and Valle d'Aosta, choose to visit the lake during their Piedmont foothills journey along the Via Francigena.
Conclusions
Lake Viverone is a magnificent and relaxing place that offers the possibility of experiencing unforgettable vacation days. Thanks to its wide range of sports and water activities, it accommodates tourists of all ages and interests. Also, being immersed in a splendid natural area, it offers the opportunity to go on excursions and enjoy a breathtaking panorama. There is no doubt that Lake Viverone is a true gem of Piedmont and a destination not to be missed for nature and outdoor activities lovers.
