The Laghestel Biotope is located in località Ferrari, in the municipality of Baselga di Piné, and was the first protected biotope in Trentino, established in 1971 to safeguard an area of exceptional natural value.
Laghestel is a typical peat‑bog basin, an ancient lake that has almost completely filled in over time and transformed into a wetland. Despite this, it still preserves a small residual body of water, whose surface varies between 2,000 and 4,000 m², with a maximum depth of about 2.5 metres. The lake is surrounded by a wide reed bed, and the peat bog forms a characteristic U‑shape facing south.
Biodiversity is one of the most precious features of the biotope: the vegetation is rich and varied, with rare wetland species, while the fauna includes numerous invertebrates, birds, and several amphibian species, which find an ideal habitat here.
Since 1975, the waters of Laghestel sometimes take on a striking reddish colour, caused by a particular unicellular alga, giving the lake a unique and fascinating appearance.
The biotope is easily accessible via a simple, flat trail, suitable even for families, allowing visitors to explore the wetland, the surrounding pine forest, and the natural points of interest along the route.
