Lake Gioveretto

In the rear Val Martello valley in the Val Venosta, a 70 hectares large reservoir is located at 1,850 m a.s.l. The Val Martello Reservoir, better known as Lake Gioveretto - "Zufrittsee" in German, "Lago di Gioveretto" in Italian - is used for energy generation (its hydro is located in Lasa in the Val Venosta). It is surrounded by the peaks of the Gioveretto Group which belongs to the Ortles Alps. The lake is a popular hiking destination in summer. An easy hike starts at the "Zum See" tavern at the end of the lake (parking possibility) and leads in a 2-hour walk along the Martello Valley Path to the dam wall and back. Information panels tell about the Stelvio National Park, surrounded by the majestic alpine world with its glaciers. There are the Vedretta del Cevedale and the Vedretta del Forcola glaciers, Mt. Cevedale and Mt. Cima Venezia, all more than 3,000 m a.s.l. high.

A more demanding moutain tour, however, takes you from Lake Gioveretto up to the 3,033 m high Cima Rossa di Martello (5 hours walking time). Furthermore near the lake, at the head of the Val Martello valley, the popular Plima Gorge Path starts. The lake is fed by the Rio Plima, a brook of the Stelvio National Park, which finally joins the Adige river. Inflows are the Rio Rosim, Rio Soy and Rio Flim streams. Due to heavy rain in 1987, the dam of Lake Gioveretto had to be opened and 16 houses were completely destroyed.

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Altitude: 1,850 m a.s.l.
Surface: 70 hectares
Depth: max. 80 m
Category: reservoir, mountain lake

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