Molveno Lake is the largest natural Alpine lake situated above 800 metres in Italy. It originated in the post-glacial era (about 3,000 - 4,000 years ago) through a barricade created in the valley by an enormous landslide. The lake has an area of about 3.3 km2 and reaches a maximum length of 4.4 km and a width of 1.5 km. The average depth is 49.3 metres, but it reaches a maximum of 123 metres

The lake is surrounded by the Brenta Group in the west and by Paganella-Gazza in the south-east. North of it we find the village of Molveno, whereas extensive forests reach from the very border of the lake up to a height of 2,000 metres. If you follow up the course of the lake's affluents, you come to the marvellous valleys of southern Brenta at the centre of the National Park Adamello-Brenta. The stream Massodi flows through the Massodi valley, which has always been the privileged starting point for those excursions leading to the peaks and refuges of Brenta (Cima Brenta, Catena degli Sfulmini).If you leave Lake Molveno (823 m a.s.l.) and move up to 2,700 metres to Bocche di Brenta, Armi and Tuckett, you'll find the natural border between Rendena Valley and the area of Molveno. The Ceda stream has cut its way between the Ceda peak and Mount Daino, creating Ceda Valley. Since there is no human settlement here, a rich variety of wildlife has made this valley to its home: hares, roedeers, chamois.

Another affluent of Lake Molveno is the Lambin stream, which comes down from the western highlands of Paganella, connecting Andalo and Molveno with 5 km of beautiful walking paths. The blue water of Lake Molveno is inhabited by a rich variety of fish, thus making fishing a most inviting leisure time activity here. Though it may result rather fresh and cool, the water also calls for some refreshening diving in the summer months. And the seasonal wind blowing from March to October from mid-morning till late in the afternoon, the "Ora del Garda", favours all kinds of wind sports: sailing, surfing, hang-gliding. .

Moreover, there are some beautiful beaches surrounding Lake Molveno: a sandy beach in the north; rocks, cliffs, fields and forests elsewhere. Therefore, you may walk around it, or ride on your bike or horse. In the south we find the state road 421 of Lake Molveno and Tenno, connecting Non Valley and Piana Rotaliana to the Garda area and Rendena Valley.Right after the Second World War hydroelectric power stations were built near Lake Molveno. In this period old findings from pre-historic times were discovered at the bottom of the lake, which testified ancient human settlements in the area. Though they endanger the fish in the lake, the power plants have not destroyed the beauty of the landscape, and even despite increasing tourism the water has retained its purity. Lake Molveno has proved to be the cleanest alpine lake below 1000 metres of altitude.Lately some environmental projects have been carried out to improve the landscape: the dam (which had never been used) has been knocked down, thus reviving little Lake of Nembia. Perhaps Antonio Fogazzaro would be rather suprised by the changes occurred, but he would still clinge to his old description: " Lake Molveno: a precious pearl in an even more precious case." Also Douglas William Freshfield, the popular English poet of the 19th century, described such scenery as something resembling more an imaginary painting than a real landscape. Only low-powered motorboats are allowed on the Lake (4 CV), and we hope that in the future all motorboats except for lifeboats will be banned.