Alleghe
Alleghe is a municipality in the province of Belluno overlooking the lake that bears its name, a body of water born from a tragedy...
Updated 12 July 2026 · Sources: https://www.dolomitireview.com/lago-di-alleghe-storia-250-anni-frana-1771-2021/ · https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_di_Alleghe · https://www.comune.alleghe.bl.it/it/page/105520
The story
The story of Alleghe
A lake born from a tragedy
Lake Alleghe is not an ancient natural basin, but the result of a catastrophic event that occurred in the eighteenth century. Its sudden and violent origin sets it apart from the other alpine lakes in the area and makes it a case study in geology as well as a tourist destination, still remembered today in the local community's historical memory.
The 1771 landslide
On the night of 11 January 1771, around eleven in the evening, a landslide detached from Monte Piz and fell into the valley below, in the area of present day Masarè. The event buried the villages of Fusine, Riete and Marin, causing 49 deaths, while the force of the water swept away five other settlements, Costa, Torre, Soracordevole, Sommariva and Peron, whose inhabitants were evacuated in time. The debris filled the bed of the Cordevole stream for around 1,200 metres, reaching a height of over 150 metres and forming a natural impermeable dam that gave rise to the lake. A second landslide, on 1 May of the same year, diverted the course of the Zunaia stream and caused three further deaths.
The Civetta and the Dolomites
Lake Alleghe lies at the foot of the Civetta, one of the most imposing and recognisable rock faces of the Dolomites, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site covering the whole range. The lake, which mirrors the mountain's rocky walls, has become one of the visual symbols of the Belluno Dolomites and one of the best known scenic spots in the whole region.
Skiing in winter, the lake in summer
Alleghe follows a double tourist cycle: in winter the ski lifts of the Civetta area attract skiers from across the Dolomites, while in summer the lake becomes a destination for walks along its shores, hikes toward the Civetta and water based activities. This combination of mountain and lake makes Alleghe an active destination throughout the year.
Experiences not to miss
- Passeggiare lungo le sponde del lago di Alleghe
- Walk along the shores of Lake Alleghe
To see
What to see in Alleghe
Routes · Trovido Route
