A historic, partially drained wetland in the Adige-Garda mountainside of Trentino
Lago di Loppio
Lago di Loppio is a protected wetland in the Autonomous Province of Trento, in northern Italy, set in the Loppio valley just southeast of the San Giovanni pass, between the municipalities of Mori and Nago-Torbole. Once a true alpine lake, it was accidentally drained during the construction of the Adige-Garda tunnel in 1956 and now only partially refills in periods of heavy rainfall, leaving an expansive marshland that is the largest palustrine area in the province.
The site carries ecological and historical significance together. Since 1987 it has been protected as a provincial biotope, a small protected area dedicated to the conservation of habitats, flora, and fauna. Surrounding woods, rocky cliffs, and seasonally flooded depressions create a mosaic of environments that supports a wide variety of wildlife, including birds of prey, amphibians that migrate in spring, and mammals ranging from deer to returning carnivores.
Lago di Loppio is also notable as an archaeological site, in particular the small Island of Sant'Andrea, which contains layered evidence of Roman, Lombard, Byzantine, and medieval occupation, including ruins, coins, jewelry, and unique funerary finds.