Sun-kissed Calabria is also known as the tip of Italy's boot. It is known for its beaches, history, friendly people and diverse nature.
Its lakes are less well known, but wrongly so. Calabria's lakes vary greatly in size, location and origin and are well worth a visit. Calabria's large lakes are often reservoirs to ensure the water supply. However, these have long been beautifully integrated into nature.
How about walking around these wonderful diamonds of water and spending precious moments on their shores?
Mach mit bei der Iron Lake Challenge Calabria, genieß die Zeit an den zehn größten Seen Kalabriens und hol Dir die Sammlermedaille der Iron Lake Challenge in der Edition „Calabria“.
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RULES
The rules for Iron Lake Challenge Calabria are very simple. Nevertheless, we would like to clarify them once again at this point:
- Sign up for the Iron Lake Challenge Calabria!
- To conquer the Iron Lake Challenge Calabria and earn the beautiful collector's medal, you have to walk around the ten largest lakes in Calabria after registering. Lakes that are partly on the territory of other states are not included in this challenge.
- Bicycles, skates, etc. are not allowed, but you are welcome to hike or run.
- Each lake must be circumnavigated "in one piece" unless special rules apply (see below in the descriptions of the lakes). This means that you are welcome to take breaks, but you should complete the lake within one day. Of course you can divide the 10 lakes into different days. Do only one lake per day, because you want to enjoy this time!
- The Iron Lake Challenge Calabria has no time limit. This means that you can cycle around the ten lakes over several years.
- We trust you that you have really circumnavigated the lakes. However, if you want to be included in the time ranking, we need a copy of your tracking. We don't care what you use (watch, smartphone or app).
General PLEASE NOTE!
- Please note that traffic rules apply in public traffic areas and along roads and cycle paths. So move with consideration.
- You circumnavigate the lakes at your own risk and at your own risk. The operator of this website assumes no liability.
- Please heed medical advice if necessary or have a medical examination before the start of the Challenge. You are responsible for your own health, equipment and condition. Breaking off a tour is not a disgrace, health always comes first!
A few important rules for dealing with nature during your lake tour:
- Please take into account the local instructions for the protection of nature.
- Please do not go off the trails.
- Please do not make noise.
- Please do not collect rocks or minerals.
- Please do not collect mushrooms.
- Please do not leave any garbage lying around. Quite the opposite. Many of us even collect garbage.
- Please do not feed animals.
- Please do not make an open fire.
- Please do not pick plants.
This should be obvious to all of us, but it doesn't hurt to remember it from time to time.
REGISTRATION AND SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Anmeldung zur Iron Lake Challenge Kalabrien will cost you 24,- EUR.
In this entry fee is our Iron Lake Challenge “Calabria Edition” Collectors Medal and the Iron Lake Challenge Coin (30mm) from the Timeless Challenge .
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However, you first have to circumnavigate the ten largest lakes in Calabria! Only then we will send you the well-deserved medal and the coin! After all, you want to earn it, not receive it as a gift.
How to register:
- Please click on the logo and you will be redirected to the registration page of our partner Digistore24
- You will now receive a registration confirmation
- Now you have to walk around the ten largest lakes in Calabria (see below). As soon as you have completed the ten lakes, please send us an extract of your tracking as proof. We will also believe you without tracking, but then you will not be included in the honor roll.
- After we have checked this, you will receive your well-deserved medal and coin. Easy, isn't it?
Your medal and your coin
If you have circumnavigated the ten largest lakes in Calabria on foot, then you have completed the wonderful Iron Lake Challenge "Calabria Edition"Medal earned. This can be the first in your upcoming collection from the Iron Lake Challenge.
Außerdem bekommst Du (aus unserer Timeless-Challenge-Serie) die Münze in der Edition „Iron Lake Challenge“ (3cm im Durchmesser)
LIFE SCORE Points
The Iron Lake Challenge is part of our Timeless Challenge. That's why you also earn Life Score points (in addition to the collector's medal) and the coin.
This will be approx. 19 Life Score points . These will be automatically credited to you in our honor roll. This service is free of charge for you.
The ten largest lakes in Calabria
The larger lakes in Calabria are mostly man-made, but this does not detract from their beauty. The smaller lakes are mostly formed by torrents or brackish water. Unfortunately, one of the large lakes (Lago Constantino) is not accessible, which is why it cannot be included in our list.
If you want to circumnavigate these lakes, then a certain amount of adventurous spirit is required, as there is very little information available about accessible paths and optimal routes. But we hope that the community of enthusiastic hikers and runners of the Iron Lake Challenge will share their experiences with us and that we will be able to provide well-founded information in a few weeks.
Lago di Cecita
Lake Cecita is probably the most important and, with its 12.6 km2 also the largest lake in Calabria. This reservoir was created between 1950 and 1955 by closing off a long section of the valley between Longobucco and Camigliatello. It is surrounded by flowering meadows, and gently rising slopes adorned with pine forests are typical here. Near the lake, in the village of Cupone, is one of the two visitor centers of the Sila National Park. It takes about 31 kilometers to circumnavigate Lago di Cecita.
Tour recommendation for the circumnavigation of Lago di Cecita (Google Maps)
Lago Arvo
Der Arvo-See liegt in einem von Sila Grande und der Sila Piccola umgebenen Tal, zwischen den Bergen Melillo und Cardoneto, die den See mit ihrer dichten Vegetation einhüllen. Um Den Lago Arvo komplett zu umrunden musst Du ca. 28 Kilometer zu Fuß zurücklegen. Entlang seines Ufers gibt es kleine Städte und vereinzelte Gebäude sowie Touristen- und Sportanlagen. Der See wird von dem Berg „Botte Donato“ bewacht (1928 m), im Winter ein beliebtes Wintertourismusziel.
Tour recommendation for the circumnavigation of Lago Arvo
Lago Ampollino
Lake Ampollino, with its 5.59 km2 is the third largest lake in the Sila and lies on the border between the provinces of Cosenza and Crotone. Its shores are reminiscent of a river and cut through a beautiful mountain landscape. Dense forests are reflected in the surface of the lake. You can cycle around the lake for around 29 kilometers.
Route recommendations for circumnavigating Lago Ampollino:
Lago dell Angitola
Lago dell Angitola, located near Maierato in the province of Vibo Valentia, was also created artificially from an arm of the Angitola River. Its surface area is 1.96 km². The lake is a designated wildlife sanctuary managed by WWF Italy. Numerous birds can be seen here, especially during the migration periods, from the common ones to the rarer ones such as the osprey or the great white egret. The circumnavigation of Lago dell Angitola on foot will cost you about 14 kilometers.
Route recommendations for circumnavigating Lago dell Angitola (Google Maps)
Lago dell Passante
Lago Passante (Lake Passer) is an artificial lake and the smallest in Sila. The lake is overgrown with numerous plant and animal species and is exciting at any time of year, offering hikers atmospheric landscapes. It has a water surface area of 1.2 km² and a walk around it is between 15 and 21 kilometers long, depending on the tour chosen.
Tour recommendations for the circumnavigation of Lago dell Passante
Lago Ariamacino (Cosenza)
Lago Ariamaciono, which covers an area of around 1.2 km², is also located in the Sila National Park, nestled in beautiful natural surroundings. In summer it is a real highlight for all hikers and in winter you can always see people snowshoeing on its shores. A round trip on foot (as you should follow the official paths) is about 15 kilometers long.
Tour recommendations for the circumnavigation of Lago Ariamacino (Google Maps)
Lago dell´Esaro (Cosenza)
Lago dell' Esaro is located in the beautiful Esaro Valley, a few kilometers from Cosenza between olive and fig groves. Nearby are thousand-year-old villages such as Santa Caterina Albanese and San Lorenzo del Vallo, where the scent of history wafts through the air. In the adjacent western part, there are also the remains of a thermal complex from the 2nd century A.D. A visit is well worthwhile. It is possible to walk around the Lago dell' Esaro, but we have only found a very extensive tour with a length of approx. 15.7 km. But we are hoping for more information.
Route recommendation for the circumnavigation of Lago dell'Esaro
Lago Lacina
This lake was also built artificially. Its dam is intended to ensure the water supply for over 88 municipalities in the region. It is located between the provinces of Vibo Valentia and Catanzaro at an altitude of around 980 meters and is fed by the river Alaco. If you use the roads marked on Google Maps, you will have to cover almost 58 kilometers on foot. However, there are many small hiking trails that Google does not recognize. This means that you can let your spirit of discovery run free.
Recommended route around Lago Lacina (Google Maps)
Lago di Tarsia
Der mit einer Wasserfläche von ca. 4,26 km2 ist ebenfalls ein künstlich angelegter See. Er wurde angelegt um ein Reservoir für die Gebiete der Sibari-Ebene in Zeiten größter Trockenheit zu schaffen. Um den See zu realisieren, wurde an der engsten Stelle des Tals, in dem sich heute der See befindet, ein Damm errichtet, der „Strette di Tarsia“ genannt wird, indem der Fluss Crati aufgestaut wurde. Der See leidet in erheblichem Maße unter zwei Faktoren: Der sommerlichen Trockenheit und den herbstlichen Überschwemmungen des Crati. Aufgrund dieser Faktoren ist der Stausee in den verschiedenen Jahreszeiten morphologisch unterschiedlich. Eine Umrundung zu Fuß fordern von Dir ca. 19km, da Du nicht immer am Ufer gehen (oder laufen) kannst.
Recommended route around Lago Tarsia (Google Maps)
Diga del Menta
The Diga del Menta (Lago Menta) dam was built on the course of the Menta stream in the Aspromonte mountains in the municipality of Roccaforte Del Greco. It was intended to solve the water supply problem for the town of Reggio. This is more or less successful, as the hot summers and short winters with little rainfall continuously lower the water level. A circuit around the Diga del Menta is around 10 kilometers long.
Recommended route around the Diga del Menta:
Iron Lake Challenge Honor Roll Calabria
Here you can quickly and easily enter your results and upload the evidence (e.g. screen copy of your tracking). We check them and approve them. Then your result is saved and appears in the honor roll.
Instructions for the Challenge Tool
This is how our honor board works
- Register on our site
- Select the lake you are circling under "Lake"
- Enter the distance you have covered (in meters) under "Length in m"
- Enter the required time (in minutes) under "Time needed (in min).
- Enter the date of your circumnavigation under "date"
- Now you can upload the evidence (e.g. a screenshot of your tracking) under "Upload proof (optional)"
- Now all you have to do is SAVE!
- We check your round and release it. Then you will see your result in the ranking.
No results
THE IRON LAKE CHALLENGE IN SOCIAL MEDIA
HASHTAGS OF THE IRON LAKE CHALLENGE
We would be happy if you share pictures, videos and your experiences around the Iron Lake Challenge with others. For this purpose we provide you with the following hashtags:
- #ironlakechallenge
- #ironlakechallengecalabria
- #timelesschallenge
The IRON LAKE CHALLENGE ON FACEBOOK
Of course we also invite you to join our Facebook group "Iron Lake Challenge Discussion Board".
DID YOU ENJOY THIS IRON LAKE CHALLENGE? THEN WE RECOMMEND YOU...
The Iron Lake Challenge is more than just a one-off adventure. For many people, it has become a part of their lives and an opportunity to get to know their own country and the world and experience unforgettable moments. That's why we recommend the other Iron Lake Challenges:
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