Fusine Lakes

The two Laghi di Fusine, upper and lower, lie in spruce and beech forest at about nine hundred metres in the Julian Alps, formed by glacial action and fed underground, with the Mangart massif rising over two thousand five hundred metres directly behind. In still conditions they mirror the wall and the forest. The area is a nature reserve and the surrounding beech woods are part of the UNESCO listing of ancient European beech forests. A path links the two lakes and continues toward the Zacchi hut below the peaks. This corner of Italy meets both Austria and Slovenia within a few kilometres.

What you actually see

• The two lakes - upper and lower basins in spruce and beech forest.
• The Mangart wall - a 2,500-metre massif reflected in still water.
• The beech woods - part of the UNESCO ancient beech listing.
• The three-border corner - Austria and Slovenia within a few kilometres.

When to go

June to October; autumn colour on the larch and beech is the strongest draw. Winter brings cross-country skiing and the road can be snowbound.

Honest expectations

Parking is paid and fills on autumn weekends. The lakes are small and the visit short unless walking further. Swimming is restricted in the reserve.

Nearby

Tarvisio lies north; the Slovenian and Austrian borders are close.