Of volcanic origin, the Lakes of Monticchio are called "the Twins of the Vulture", deep, in some points, over 60m. Both elliptical in shape, they are located at the south-western slope of Mount Vulture, occupy the crater mouths of the ancient volcano and are separated by a 215m wide isthmus.
Although communicating with each other, the lakes present a different color: the Lago Piccolo has a greenish color while the Lago Grande tends to olive green. The Lago Piccolo has an area of 16 hectares and a perimeter of 1,800m, has steep banks that go down to a depth of 38m. The Lago Grande with an area of 38 hectares and a perimeter of 2,700m, occupies a funnel-shaped cavity, with slums extended for most of the basin, which only sink to the north up to 36m. The small lake at 658m is fed by underwater springs, from here the water flows through a stream with a capacity of 57 liters per second, in the Lago Grande, at an altitude of 656m.
Both lakes have the highest temperature of the lakes in Italy. Among the plant species along the banks are oak and beech trees, and water lilies in the water. Among the fish fauna of particular protection is the Apennine bleak (Alburnus albidus).
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