The lakes of the Gargano: between characteristics and curiosities

The Gargano is a very interesting and fascinating place also due to the diversity of scenarios that reveal themselves in front of us when visiting it. In a short time you go from crystalline beaches, to climbing the promontories, to visiting the lakes of the Gargano.

All this not only makes the northern area of Puglia extremely interesting and varied, but also a place capable of satisfying different needs and never getting boring. North of the Gargano there are two coastal lakes: Lake Varano and Lake Lesina. Let’s find out more.

Varano lake

Lake Varano has the shape of a square, measures approximately 60.5 sq km and for this reason it is the largest that can be found in Southern Italy. Here you can recognize different species of fish, especially eels and big fish, making it a place of attraction for fishing enthusiasts. Lake Varano communicates with the Adriatic Sea through two channels: the mouth of Varano and the mouth of Capoiale. The Capoiale canal is also known as the Varano Island. It is a long sandy coast, famous for being a fishing and tourism center but also one of the most relaxing places in the Gargano National Park. The vegetation is luxuriant, made up of eucalyptus and pine trees, the sea is crystal clear.

Lesina lake

Among the lakes of the Gargano, the salty one of Lesina has an elongated shape. About 22 km long and about 2.4 km wide, with a surface area of about 51.5 sq km. It is the second largest lake in the south and ranks ninth considering all of Italy. Famous for eel fishing.

Curiosities about the lakes of Gargano

Between the 2 lakes artefacts belonging to the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages have been found. This proof that these places have been inhabited since ancient times.