Lago delle Locce (2.380 mt.)

Note
The « Lago Effimero », which reached its maximum extension in summer 2002, is currently of a reduced size.
Its extension and size depends on the climate and rainfall.
However, the excursion is still a beautiful hike at the bottom of the Monte Rosa. We remind our visitors that it is always necessary to follow all safety measures.
Enjoy your hike and, please, keep bringing your rubbish down to town.

Description
There is a new glacial lake on the Alps.
The biggest that one can remember; and the most beautiful. Green, light blue, milky, depending on the weather.
It was named “Effimero” (ephemeral) because it might disappear or change depending on the movements of the Belvedere glacier, which holds it between its crevasses and seracs like a baby cot and which also supplies it with some little interesting icebergs.
It was “discovered” on the 21st June 2002; before that there was a little basin, which rapidly grew with the melting snow until it reached, at the moment of its biggest extension, the size of 166.000 square meters, a volume of over 3 million cubical meters and a depth of 57 meters.
At the beginning it caused some legitimate worries, then a slow reduction of its level started, which was aided by an artificial pipeline, which was built by the Italian Department of Civil Protection.
However, the lake wasn’t totally emptied as to not interfere with this natural event.
Once safety had been restored, it became an interesting attraction, not only to scientists, but also to anyone who loves our mountains. The area where the ephemeral lake is located is at 2160 m.a.s.l. and can be reached with a 90-minute walk from the arrival station of the chairlift “Belvedere” (1950 m.a.s.l.), which leaves from Pecetto in Macugnaga (big parking lot).
From Belvedere there is an easy trail that crosses the glacier to then go up the Pedriola valley until the Rifugio Zamboni-Zappa (simple mountain hotel and restaurant, ph. Nr. 032465313).
From there you can follow a trail on the flat which goes along a beautiful grassy laver, on the border of the glacier and at the bottom of the eastern side of the Monte Rosa, the most majestic in the Alps, which culminates at the Dufour summit (4.634 m.a.s.l), with 2500 meters climb.
A short final climb leads to the end of another small lake (Locce): here a terrace enables visitors to unarm the Effimero Lake and the underlying Belvedere glacier.
Even the Belvedere glacier gives a show.
In contrast to the other ice tongues, it is moving towards the valley with a speed of around 100 meters per year.
This phenomenon is provokde by a large landslide, that has been hitting the wall of the Monte Rosa for various years, spilling on the glacier an enormous mass of rocks that have caused its acceleration.
In this dynamic, the ice is surging, leaving behind a depression that has been filled by Lake Effimero.
On the way to the Belvedere, large craters and many crevasses have been created and they draw a grandiose and impressive landscape that allows you to re-read the pages of the glaciations that disappeared decades ago.
This phenomenon will last from two to four years.