Lago di Pilato

Lago di Pilato
Lago di Pilato during summer.
Lago di Pilato
Location	Montemonaco, Province of Ascoli Piceno, Marche
Coordinates	42°49′N 13°16′E
Type	glacial
Basin countries	Italy
Max. length	300 m (980 ft) c.a.
Max. depth	9 metres (30 ft)
Surface elevation	1,941 m (6,368 ft)

Lago di Pilato (Pilate lake) is a glacial lake located in Sibylline Mountains, among Apennine.

Description

It is located in a narrow glacial valley beneath Mount Vector (2476 m) and Redeemer Peak (2448 m) summits. It is supposed to date back to the superior pleistocene.

The lake takes its name from a legend in which Pontius Pilate was killed there and buried under lake bed as punishment for his role at passion of the Christ time.

Geo-politically the lake is situated in Marche, and it is the sole natural lake of the region (excluding small shoreline lakes), the province is Ascoli Piceno, and is part of the Monti Sibillini National Park.

During water abundance periods the lake assumes the shape of a pair of eyeglasses while when there is a lack of water it retreats into two smaller pools. For this reason it is nicknamed the lake with glasses".

Endemisms

Chirocephalus marchesonii, a freshwater shrimp is endemic to this lake.