Reschensee (; ;
Italian: ''Lago di Resia'' ) or Lake Reschen is an
artificial lake in the western portion of
South Tyrol,
Italy, approximately south of the
Reschen Pass, which forms the border with
Austria, and east of the mountain ridge forming the border with
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. With its capacity of 120 million cubic metres (97,000 ac·ft) it is the largest lake in the province. Its surface area of makes it also the largest lake above in the
Alps.
[Schweizerischer Wasserwirtschaftsverband, ]
Wasser- und Energiewirtschaft
', Vol. 43-44, p.115 It is fed by the
Adige, Rojenbach and
Karlinbach and drained by the Adige.
The lake is famous for the steeple of a submerged 14th-century church; when the water freezes, this can be reached on foot. A legend says that during winter one can still hear church bells ring. In reality the bells were removed from the tower on July 18, 1950, a week before the demolition of the church
nave and the creation of the lake.
Origins
Plans for a smaller (5 m deep) artificial lake date from 1920. In July 1939, the
Montecatini company (now
Edison Energia) introduced a new plan for a -deep lake, which would unify two natural lakes (''Reschensee'' and ''Mittersee'') and submerge several villages, including
Graun and part of
Reschen. The creation of the dam started in April 1940 pursuant to this second plan but, due to the war and local resistance, did not finish until July 1950.
In 1947 Montecatini received 30 million Swiss francs from the Swiss company for the construction of the dam (in exchange for 10 years of seasonal electricity), paradoxically after the population of
Splügen had voted against the company's plans to build a dam that would have submerged that Swiss village. Graun's population did not have such success, despite the willing ear of
Antonio Segni who later became Italy's prime minister. In total 163 homes and of cultivated land were submerged.
References
External links
Reschensee Ship Tours
{{DEFAULTSORT:Resia
Lakes of South Tyrol
Artificial lakes of Italy