The Monte Cotugno Dam: an enchanting artificial lake

When people say that human intervention ruins landscapes, they should show a work that combines human ingenuity with natural beauty. We are talking about the Monte Cotugno dam, nestled between the hills of Val d'Agri and the Pollino mountains, in the territory of Senise, in Potenza.

It is built entirely of rammed earth and is in fact the largest artificial reservoir in Europe with this characteristic. Its purpose is to collect the waters of the Sinni River. It was built in the 1980s and extends for over eleven kilometers, covering an area that stretches to the horizon, with the lake appearing as an immense expanse of sea. And let's not forget that we are in Basilicata.

The landscape surrounding the Monte Cotugno dam is also spectacular. The banks alternate with green hills, cultivated fields, and rocky slopes, and the colors are tinged with golden reflections, especially at sunrise and sunset, creating a natural mirror that enchants anyone who happens to be there to observe it.

Although it is a strategic work for agricultural irrigation and water supply, the Monte Cotugno dam is also a destination for slow and sustainable tourism. In fact, many tourists gather there for trekking and long bike rides, breathing pure air and deafening silence, losing themselves in boundless views and breathtaking plays of light.

The experience is made even richer by the proximity to the Pollino National Park, a wonderful nature reserve, and the archaeological areas of Siris-Herakleia, which also tell an important piece of Basilicata's history.

Nature, landscape, and history come together in a great feat of human engineering in the Monte Cotugno dam. This dam is therefore a surprising work, a side of Basilicata that not everyone knows about. Every glance, every visit tells of the harmony between man and nature, something rare these days.

Photo credits: Renato Sansone - Licensed by CC 4.0