Lake Carezza (Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy)

In the Val d'Ega valley, only 6 km from Nova Levante, there is an emerald green mountain lake - Lake Carezza. Due to its impressive colours, in Ladin language it is called "Lec de Ergobando" (Rainbow Lake). But its colours are not the only reason for this special name. According to legends, once upon a time there was a mermaid living in the lake, which wizard Masaré was in love with. In order to seduce her, the witch Lanwerda advised him to dress up as jewel merchant and throw a rainbow from Mt. Catinaccio to Mt. Latemar. That is what he did, but he forgot to dress up. So the beautiful mermaid detected him and forever disappeared in Lake Carezza. The wizard was angry and threw all the pieces of the rainbow as well as the jewels into the waters.

That's why it still features rainbow colours. Lake Carezza - "Karer See" in German, "Lago di Carezza" in Italian - is fed by subterraneous springs from the Latemar Group and his water level is constantly changing. The highest level is achived in spring with a depth of 22 m, whereas the lowest level in October reaches only 6 m. In summer months the lake is fed by snow melt. A circular trail leads in 20 minutes round the lake which is accessible by public means of transport as well as by car - on the opposite side of the street there's a large parking space (chargeable). In winter, however, the "Fairytale Lake of the Dolomites" is frozen and covered by snow.