| ABOUT LAKE PERGUSA
Natural History Lake Pergusa is one of only two natural lakes that remain in Sicily; it is a part of the region of Enna, in the center of the island. Of tectonic origins, it is a classical closed basin, without tributaries and outflowing rivers, fed by rain water and tricklings from internal rock layers. It is of ancient origins, cited in historical and mythological works of the 1st century A.D.
Because of its unusual environmental characteristics, Lake Pergusa is unique in Italy and in Europe. Its waters, lightly salinated, are characterized by remarkable biological phenomena, such as periodic reddening due to the presence of a rich, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The total or partial reddening of the water occurs in specific periods of the year (summer months) and when conditions are optimal (which, unfortunately, has not been the case for quite a few years now). The phenomenon was studied in 1932 by Professor A. Forti, who dubbed Lake Pergusa "the lake of blood." According to Professor Sergio Angeletti, "this lake represents a marvelous example in microcosm. . .of the formation of the ocean four to five million years ago. The ocean was formed by the sinking of Pliocene limestone tuff. And just as in time the ocean became salty from the washing out of salty minerals, so it has happened here, in the heart of Sicily, with this lake, which in small form permits us to trace and illustrate a natural phenomenon of great importance." Lake Pergusa is the most important wetland for the resting and wintering of migratory birds in Sicily, hosting on average 50 percent of all birds found in other natural and artificial basins in Sicily. At the lake, 104 waterbird species have been observed, including great red and white herons, flamingos, swans, cranes, marsh harriers, etc. The area acts as an important nesting spot for migrating birds coming from all over in Europe. The hydrological balance of Pergusa is affected by meteorological conditions, such as rain and temperature, which cause augmentation or evaporation of the waters. The lake is surrounded by an auto racetrack that prevents the lake from being able to expand beyond a certain level, thus hampering its natural growth. Before 1860, its maximum depth was approximately 21 feet; today it is less than six and the lake is less than three miles in circumference. The surrounding environment has become increasingly encroached upon by the building of homes, except for a small state-owned forest and a vast area with remnants of the original vegetation. Mythology and History Ovid, writing in the 1st century A.D., named Lake Pergusa as the place where the goddess Proserpina/Persephone was abducted by Hades/Pluto and taken into the underworld. In The Metamorphoses, he described Lake Pergusa thusly: There is a lake, of waters clear and deep,
The countryside surrounding Lake Pergusa. Lake is in upper right. In 1958, Enrico Sinicropi, in his book Enna in History, Life, and Art, wrote: "The most delicious place in Enna is Lake Pergusa, on whose banks, from November to April, can be seen the constant swarming of hunters who come from the city of Enna and other neighboring towns, eager to cause a sensation among the ducks, mallards, coots, herons, and other species of migratory aquatic birds, which populate the lake in often remarkable number. It’s a ruthless hunt, carried out at night, as well.. . .Another classic scene is the catching of certain small tasty fish, which in regional dialect are known as mazzamurru, as well as eel, tench, mullet, and other species. . . .From the descriptions of antiquity it seems clear that the lake was surrounded by forests, but today there exist only perennially green pastures and country houses, small vineyards, and luxuriant vegetation. . .In the spring the lake becomes an Eden; vacationers and walkers are delightedly drawn to the place with incessant rhythm. . .Observed from any high point in the district of Zagaria in the West, the lake, in the shape an irregular polygon, surrounded by gently rolling hills and a marvelous foreshortened backdrop of the Nebrodi Mountains and Mount Etna that goes all the way to Leonforte, forms part of a powerfully enchanted panorama where dream is easily confused with reality. . .Nature and poetry wrap the observer in a profound state of aesthetic ecstasy, offering truly extraordinary moments of pleasure that one could not imagine had one not experienced it." Reading the historical descriptions of the beauty of Lake Pergusa from antiquity until as recently as 1958, anyone who has seen the lake can hardly believe that the literature is describing the same body of water that exists today. Now Lake Pergusa looks more like a swamp than a lake; more like an eyesore than an Eden. What has caused this travesty?
The construction of the auto racetrack around the lake in 1958, which violated laws prohibiting construction so close to a body of water, prevents the lake from expanding and contracting naturally and from getting any deeper. Moreover, the intense exploitation of the area for residential and recreational purposes and the creation of numerous wells for household use and sewage drainage have disturbed the hydrological equilibrium of the lake, deflecting the flow of water from the rock strata away from lake’s basin and contributing to its pollution and steady shrinkage. In addition, the lake has progressively become filled with sediment and vegetative residue. Every year, it continues to dry up. Before 1860, its maximum depth was approximately 21 feet; today it is less than six feet. Lake Pergusa is disappearing. The wildlife around the lake is also disappearing. Pollution, along with hunting and fishing, have resulted in the profound diminution of the populations of aquatic birds that nest there and of most of the species of fish that once filled its waters. Many of the species once found in and around the lake have become extinct.
Finally, the massive structure of the auto racetrack prevents people from sitting by the banks of the lake for enjoyment. Tourist traffic associated with the auto sport generates litter that remains strewn all over the area. The lake is no longer a place where the public can go to appreciate nature. In 1991, as a result of pressure from environmental organizations and scientists, Lake Pergusa was named by the regional government as a "Natural Reserve" of the highest status. However, in 1995 the regional delegation of the Province of Enna persuaded the regional government to insert an amendment to downgrade the status of the reserve from "total" to "special." This was done to bypass certain laws regarding parks and reserves. Illegal activities have continued to be authorized, while the regional environmental authority has failed to apply sanctions and penalties that are within its jurisdiction. 1971 1973 1975 1976 1977 1980 1981 1982
1983 Illegal hunting continues at the lake. Environmental organizations such as Italia Nostra (Our Italy), Lega Ambiente (Environmental League), and the WWF organize a series of demonstrations, which emerge out of a conference at Enna entitled "Territorial Planning and Protection of Enna’s Natural Heritage," in order to inform the public about the environmental and socially useful potential of several areas, including Lake Pergusa. 1984 1991 1995 1999 The document states: "The WWF Italy and the racetrack authority, each according to their area of expertise, will lead a study to determine the type and size of the new racetrack that they hope to construct, the best place for it within the town of Enna, the interventions that will be necessary for the restoration of Lake Pergusa, the possibilities for using the lake in new ways once the racetrack is removed, the individual and total costs of all of these interventions, and the identification of necessary procedures and sources of financing. . .They confirm that the potential project should be financed as a whole so that its realization will be guaranteed. . . .Once all stakeholders have agreed upon the general program, the participants agree to sign, without delay, a new agreement that elaborates details of the project, individuals who will carry them out, and a timeframe for accomplishing them." 2000 Several years ago, the World Wildlife Fund, Enna chapter, outlined a proposal for extending the uses of the Lake Pergusa nature reserve. They suggested activities and efforts that would respect the natural environment while permitting the region to benefit socially, economically, culturally, and recreationally from the lake in new ways. With the October 1999 agreement between the racetrack authority and the WWF to remove the racetrack and restore the lake, Sicilian environmental activists are hoping that this proposal can be developed further and carried out once funding sources are identified. The document proposes the following:
The proposal suggests that local groups and businesses be given priority in helping to create such infrastructure in order to generate wealth and employment in the region, and that youth be given employment opportunities in conjunction with such projects. If you would like to help with such efforts, or if you have suggestions for resources or funding that could assist, please contact us. [REBECCA, MAKE SURE THAT THIS LAST GETS LINKED TO THE ‘HELP/CONTACT US’ SECTION.] In 1999, the racetrack authority agreed to collaborate with the WWF Italy in relocating the racetrack and environmentally restoring the lake "in the shortest time possible and in conjunction with all relevant stakeholders," according to an agreement signed on October 20. The document states: "The WWF Italy and the racetrack authority, each according to their area of expertise, will lead a study to determine the type and size of the new racetrack that they hope to construct, the best place for it within the town of Enna, the interventions that will be necessary for the restoration of Lake Pergusa, the possibilities for using the lake in new ways once the racetrack is removed, the individual and total costs of all of these interventions, and the identification of necessary procedures and sources of financing. . .They confirm that the potential project should be financed as a whole so that its realization will be guaranteed. . . .Once all stakeholders have agreed upon the general program, the participants agree to sign, without delay, a new agreement that elaborates details of the project, individuals who will carry them out, and a timeframe for accomplishing them." However, the project to relocate the racetrack and restore Lake Pergusa has been stalled due to a lack of funds. A growing number of Americans are becoming interested in the situation and in giving a hand to the project by researching what international organizations and funds might provide resources and funding. This Web site has been created as part of that effort. If you would like to help with the restoration project, or if you have suggestions for resources or funding that could assist, please contact us. Please contact us if you have ideas for resources and funding that may help us in this mission, or if you would like to lend a hand to the project in any way. Also feel free to join the Lake Pergusa e-group at www.egroups.com/group/LakePergusa. Marguerite Rigoglioso (speaks English and Italian) Maria Cimino (speaks Italian only) Yvonne Kohler (speaks English and Italian) World Wildlife Fund Italy (speak English) |
The historian Diodorus Siculus, the Roman orator Cicero, and the poet Claudianus also made reference to the lake and the splendor of its environs. A Siculo-roman coin found in the region, which on one side reveals the head of Ceres/Demeter (the mother of Proserpina/Persephone), recalls the mythological event. The lake’s surrounding territory, characterized by gently rolling hills, has always been of interest to scholars, particularly archeologists. In 1944, archeologist Luigi Bernabò Brea pointed out the presence of a Siculian-period necropolis (7th to 6th century B.C.) encompassing Lake Pergusa.
