The province of Trento, the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, a luxuriant wood, a suggestive lake, the red color, the princess Tresenga, are the ingredients of an ancient and legendary tale. Once upon a time and there still is a place nestled between fairy tale and reality in the Val di Non, in Trentino. Lake Tovel carries an extraordinary heritage of fairy tales and legends. From a scientific point of view, the presence of the red color, which dyes the lake waters, depends on the presence of a variety of algae, precisely the “Tovellia Sanguinia”.
A phenomenon full of magic
Since the XNUMXs, this sometimes mysterious spectacle has completely disappeared. Because? How come the crystal clear waters no longer turn red? Probably this phenomenon, and especially this particular alga, obtained benefits from the excrements of grazing cows, cows that have abandoned these territories for decades. Nitrogen and phosphorus, present in cattle excrement, strongly fueled this suggestive process.
The mystery of Lake Tovel
This phenomenon, at times paranormal, has intrigued experts from all over the world. In the sixties, the photographic shots of the red waters attracted the attention of enthusiasts. The location, in fact, was literally catapulted into the limelight, demonstrating that the beauty of our country is everywhere, from culture, to typical dishes to mountain places.
Princess Tresenga
The stories about Princess Tresenga are strongly rooted in all the valleys surrounding Lake Tovel. A "fairy tale" full of sadness would fuel the legend of the red lake. These territories, according to the many reconstructions, fell into the kingdom of Ragoli, in Val Rendena. The king had no male heirs and on his death he left all his wealth to his daughter Tresenga. A beautiful girl, with beautiful eyes, who soon attracted several suitors. For fear of putting his kingdom into the wrong hands he would not accept any invitation. The king of Tuenno, not content with being continually rejected by the beautiful Tresenga, decided to declare war on the princess.
The courage of Tresenga
The young princess did not abandon her soldiers and to defend the borders of the kingdom took part in the final battle. A very hard battle echoed in all the surrounding valleys. Soon, her loyal soldiers were decimated, and she, left with a squad of soldiers, despite the strength of the rival army, took part in the final battle. The blood shed by the princess and her brave soldiers colored Lake Tovel. Even today, strange sighs are told during the nights of the full moon. Some swear, probably enchanted by the suggestion, to see Princess Tresenga weep for her soldiers on the waters of the lake.
Fact or fiction?
Testimonies from locals tell of a continuous crying, during the night, of a girl walking along the lake. Reality? Fiction? Suggestion? Is there a pinch of truth about the legend of the princess? It is not known, but surely the courage of this girl will continue to resist over time and will watch over these mountains. Will the charm of the red waters return? Who knows, dreaming costs nothing.
(Photo-facebook page lago rosso)
