The artificial lake Fontana Bianca in the rear Val d’Ultimo, at 1,872 m a.s.l., is located in the eponymous nature reserve
Image gallery: Lake Fontana Bianca
About 6 km behind the last village of the Val d'Ultimo, S. Geltrude, there is the small Lake Fontana Bianca (Weissbrunnsee in German), representing the end of the valley. The lake is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Stelvio National Park. This is where the Valsura river rises, taking its course across the valley up to Lana, where the river flows into the Adige river.
In the years 1957 - 1962, the power plant Weissbrunn/Fontana Bianca was constructed. Together with five more artificial lakes in the Val d'Ultimo, the water of the glaciers and rivers is gathered. Often the artificial lakes were built where there used to be ancient farms, so that the farmers had to resettle and entire buildings were drowned in the waters. Today the power plants cover the power demand of about 85,000 families.
From the Fontana Bianca Lake, the mountain walk to the Monte Chiodo starts (2,469 m a.s.l.), providing an incomparable view on the Val d'Ultimo. Or you can scale the Cima Fontana Bianca (3,253 m a.s.l.). Shorter walks take you to the Fiecht Mountain Hut (2,036 m a.s.l.) and to the Lake Pescatori (Fischer See). Moreover, the Fontana Bianca Lake is one of two artificial lakes in the valley where fishing is allowed. Rainbow trout, river trout, Arctic char and brown trout live in its waters. In winter, however, the surroundings of the lake become a paradise for those who love ski tours and snow-shoe tours.
