Lake Braies, Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, Dolomites, Italy

Peace among the peaks. Lake Braies, Dolomites, Italy

Tucked among the peaks of the Dolomites, Lake Braies sits nearly 5,000 feet above sea level in northern Italy. Its green and blue waters are framed by forest and the mountains of Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. Visitors can follow a two-mile trail around the shore or head out onto the water in one of the lake's traditional wooden rowboats. It's also a great place to begin exploring the surrounding mountains, with several hiking routes starting here, including the famous Alta Via 1.

The striking rock faces that rise above Lake Braies reveal the region's ancient geological history. These distinctive peaks, part of the Dolomites, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009 for their unique geomorphology and dramatic landscapes. Composed primarily of Triassic sedimentary rock, these mountains show evidence of past tropical seas, later uplifted and sculpted by glacial erosion. The lake's clear waters mirror these ancient formations, offering a direct visual link to the profound geological forces continually sculpting this alpine environment.