Lago Santo Modenese

The summit of the pagan Giovo is reflected on the holy surface of the lake

Place to be used as a base for various Apennine excursions both to the East and to the West; given the number of refuges around its banks, it is possible to stay for several days, or to choose it as the arrival stage of a longer journey on foot to or from the Garfagnana.

The lake is located at an altitude of 1,501 m above sea level. and it is the largest natural lake in the Modena Apennines and the second, slightly surpassed by the homonymous lake in Parma, in the entire northern Apennines: it has a perimeter of 1250 m, a length of approximately 550 m and its surface measures 58,000 m2 while its maximum depth is approximately 20 metres, found in the sector below the wall of Monte Giovo; its reservoir is approximately 450,000 m3.
Lago Santo is fed by three tributaries: one descends from the Boccaia, another from the Serra coast and the third from the Borra dei Porci terrace; instead there is a single emissary located at the southern end near the Rifugio Vittoria. The lake has a mixed origin, glacial and landslide.