On a light background we read, in white characters: VIVERONE Yes I lake it. The inscription is accompanied by some icons: a lotus, a fish and a person sitting on a basin shape, which evoke the themes of nature and relaxation.
A green line or area chart, stylized and jagged, with different peaks and depressions on a white background, which suggests the fluctuating trend of the data over time.
Light green and white graphics with the inscription "VIVERONE". Above the "V" is a lotus flower, inside the "E" there is a fish, in the "O" a person wakeboards and at the end of the word you can see the outline of a bottle.
A light green wavy shape, with soft curves, extends horizontally on a white background, reminiscent of a liquid or organic form.

Viverone

A Protected Natural Treasure

Welcome to Lake Viverone, the largest of the intermorenic basins of the Morainic Amphitheatre of Ivrea.
This lakeside environment is a Site of Community Importance (SIC) and an Area of Special protection (SPA), recognised and protected by the European Union for its high nature value.
The lake is famous for its extraordinary biodiversity:
• It is one of the most important areas at regional level for aquatic avifauna, acting as a crucial habitat for stopping, migrating and nesting birds.
• In about 30 years of monitoring, as many as 27 different species of geese and ducks have been recorded, a remarkable fact that elects this basin a ‘Birdwatching paradise’.
• Its shores, in particular the western shore: the most natural and least anthropized part – host extensive reed beds and wooded areas with black alder. These wetlands are a refuge for rare species, including the Lataste frog and the vicena butterfly of the swamps.

In addition to these riches, Lake Viverone is also site of a Bronze Age pile-dwelling site, included in the World Heritage SiteUNESCO.

We invite you to explore the Viverone with a Conscious approach: future development choices are oriented towards alternative tourism and a more respectful use of the delicate balance of lake habitats, essential for the conservation of its precious naturalistic value

Simple black icon depicting a landscape with a mountain, a large pine, a smaller tree and curved lines representing the water in the foreground, evoking the scenery that could be admired during an excursion on Lake Viverone.

Origin and Landscape

The Lake of Viverone is the largest of the intermorenic basins in the area. Its origin is linked to the retreat of the Balteo glacier, and is located at theinterior of the suggestive Morenic Amphitheatre of Ivrea.
The lake is located on horseback between the Provinces of Biella, Turin and Vercelli, On its banks are the municipalities of Azeglio, Borgomasino, Piverone and Viverone.
This landscape is not only characterised by water, but also by important vegetation: in the north-west there is a large wooded area where black alder prevails in the wettest areas.
In addition to natural wealth, the territory also guards Precious testimonies of the past: the submerged remains of a Bronze Age village, a pile-dwelling site included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A snowy mountain range under a clear blue sky, with jagged peaks and ridges that stand out on the horizon.
A soft shape, light green and wavy, with sinuous curves on a white background, reminiscent of a stylized hill or an abstract landscape.

Habitat and Biodiversity

Lake Viverone is an ecosystem of high natural value, recognised and protected by the European Union as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA).
The alternation of wetlands and wooded areas creates an environment conducive to a surprising wealth of life.

Flora and Rare Amphibians

• Terrestrial and Palustrial habitats: The north-western sector has a large wooded area where black alder prevails in the wettest areas. The western shore, the most natural and least anthropized part of the lake, is home to vast reed beds that form a complex mosaic with shrubs of gray willow and black alder.

• Aquatic Flora: In the deepest areas (up to 4-5 m) there are populations of aquatic plants rooted on the bottom with floating leaves, such as the yellow water lily, and submerged, such as the myriophyll and the ceratophyll.

• Protected species: Wetlands are vital for many species of amphibians, including the common toad, the dotted newt, the frog and the very rare Lataste frog. In addition, these areas are frequented by many species of dragonflies and butterflies, including the vicena of the swamps, of high interest at European level.

Avifauna and Birdwatching

The lake is one of the most important areas at regional level for aquatic avifauna. The site is a crucial habitat for the wintering, migration and nesting of waterfowl.

  • Wintering and nesting species: In about 30 years of monitoring, 27 different species of geese and ducks have been recorded. This large number elects the basin as a ‘birdwatching paradise’. Among the nesting birds there are the major vassal (with about 30 pairs), the mallard and the coot.
  • Rarity: In winter, rare specimens such as the fish, a duck that comes from Northern Europe and is very rare in Italy, can be seen. Luckily, it is possible to observe all five vassal species that live in Europe, including the very rare horned vassal.
  • Elusive birds: In the swampy areas, the reed beds give shelter to birds such as the cannareccione and the cannaiola, which despite being very difficult to see, are heard with the song.

Flora

The flora of Lake Viverone is a crucial element of its ecological identity, especially considering that the environment is recognized as a Site of Community Importance (SCI)
The vegetation of the lake acts as a real "biological shield": It not only embellishes the landscape, but provides shelter and nourishment to a wide range of species, making its protection vital, especially in a delicate environment such as that of Viverone.

Fauna

The presence of animal communities of high natural value is at the origin of the designation of Lake Viverone as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and Special Protection Area (SPA), recognized and protected by the European Union
Lake Viverone is one of the most important areas in the region for aquatic avifauna. The site is a crucial habitat for wintering, migrating and nesting waterfowl.

Wetlands

These habitats are essential because the alternation of wetlands and wooded areas creates an environment conducive to a wide variety of life

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Wetlands are places to be protected in some way to ensure that animals, especially migratory birds, always find a place where they can stop.
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Species to be observed

A grey heron is perched on a partially submerged branch above a quiet body of water, with dense brown vegetation and trees in the background.
A brown duck, with a slightly lighter head and black tail feathers, floats on a calm, rippled water, projecting a faint reflection of itself onto the surface.
A cormorant is perched on a rock near the water with its dark wings wide open, while drying them in the sun. The feathers of the bird appear shiny and variegated, and the beak is slightly curved.
Two ducks float on calm water. The one on the left has a bright orange head and a red beak, while the one on the right is gray-brown with a dark beak. Both are reflected on the rippled surface of the water.
A black water bird, with a white beak and red eyes, runs on the surface of a calm body of water, with partially unfolded wings and legs splashing, creating ripples and reflections.
A black chick follows and catches the tail of an adult water hen near the edge of a muddy pond, surrounded by green plants.
A female major emerald with a brown crest is standing on a rocky algae-covered shore, near calm waters, facing left under bright sunlight.
A large white heron, with long white wings and a yellow beak, flies gracefully over a calm and blue body of water, while a small blurred object can be seen in the background.
Photographs by Tiziano Fogola

Discover with Viverone

A quiet lake with a pier in the foreground, two birds perched on it, mountains and snow-capped trees in the background and a cloudy sky reflecting off the water.

Protection and Environment

Despite the enormous wealth, the lake is a delicate environment, exposed to phenomena of strong environmental pressure.

Alien species: Accidental or voluntary introduction of invasive alien species is a major impact, as they compete with local ones. For example, the red shrimp of Louisiana is a real scourge for amphibians, and fish of North American origin have modified the fish fauna.

Indigenous species: Indigenous species such as perch and pike are still present in the lake, although pike is threatened by the introduction of the daubian log pike.

The preservation of its naturalistic value is essential for the future of the lake.

Guidelines for a Responsible Visit

This body of water is our home, but it is also the "living room" of thousands of birds and aquatic creatures. To enjoy relaxation without leaving a trace, follow these little golden rules

On tiptoe: the art of visiting Viverone

Visiting our lake is like entering someone else's house: requires light steps and outstretched ears. Choosing to move on foot or by bicycle is not only a way to keep fit, but the greatest gift you can give to the landscape, letting the sounds of nature cover the noise of the engines. Being a welcome guest means enjoying the spectacle of grebes or swans from afar, without giving in to the temptation to offer them food, which would damage their health. In this balance of silence and respect, the rule is simple: leave no trace of its passage, taking away all waste and protecting the reed beds, the real "nursery" where the life of the lake is regenerated every day.

Environmental problems

Lake Viverone seems immobile and quiet, but in reality it is an ecosystem that works 24 hours a day to stay healthy. Here are the "enemies" who risk disturbing this balance and why we need to keep an eye on them

A subtle balance: The Challenges of Our Ecosystem

Beneath Viverone's body of water beats a fragile heart, threatened by enemies who are often invisible. The main danger is eutrophication: an excess of nutrients that, like a diet that is too rich, causes algae to proliferate until oxygen is removed from the fish and transparency to the water. But the lake also suffers from "too much noise": Invasive waves and engines erode the shores and disturb the nests hidden between the reeds, the natural filters that clean the water. Complicating the picture are the "alien" species, plants and animals arrived from afar that steal space from our biodiversity. Protecting Viverone means understanding that the lake is not an inert basin, but a living organism that needs respect to continue breathing.
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