The Stone Lake of Pertusillo

Where water becomes landscape

In the heart of the Lucanian Apennines National Park, water is a constant and vital presence: springs, fountains and wetlands dot the landscape, telling the story of an ancient relationship between man and nature.

Among these, Lake Pietra del Pertusillo is one of the most evocative and symbolic settings in the Val d'Agri. Created by damming the Agri River between 1957 and 1962 near the Montemurro locality of “Pietra del Pertusillo” - so called because the river, in that stretch, flowed between two rocks - the artificial reservoir now covers a large area at an altitude of 532 metres, bordering the territories of Grumento Nova, Montemurro and Spinoso. The dam, an impressive engineering feat financed by the Cassa del Mezzogiorno, has created a body of water capable of holding up to 155 million cubic metres, intended for drinking, irrigation and energy purposes.

Although its construction has profoundly changed the appearance of the valley, the lake has been able to integrate into the natural environment, transforming itself over time into a precious habitat. Chestnut, turkey oak and beech woods descend to the shores, leaving partially submerged trunks emerging in some places, making the landscape even more evocative. There are also mountain maple and poplar trees, and shrubs such as hazel, hawthorn and wild rose. 

A rich biodiversity has developed around and within its waters: mammals such as foxes, wildcats and the rare hazel dormouse find refuge in the wooded areas, while grey herons, mallards, grebes, kites, sparrowhawks, hawks, hoopoes, owls and other protected species populate the sky and wetlands, allowing birdwatchers to enjoy their hobby in direct contact with nature. The waters are home to a variety of fish fauna such as trout, eels and carp, making the lake a popular destination for sport fishing.

Today, Pertusillo is not only a strategic water resource, but also a meeting place for nature, sport and leisure: from rowing competitions to summer events in the Val d'Agri, to simple walks along the shores.

A landscape where human engineering and the regenerative power of nature coexist, offering one of the most fascinating and unexpected faces of the Lucanian Apennines.