Diga di Ridracoli

The Diga di Ridracoli lies in the countryside of Bagno di Romagna, 30 km from the town centre and from the Terme Naturali. The dam holds back the natural course of the river Bidente, creating Lake Ridracoli, which can be explored by boat or by canoe. The lake is relatively young but rich in prized aquatic life: planktonic species and bottom-dwelling fauna that grows on the lake bed, while all around it is possible to spot rare insects and amphibians such as the Salamandrina di Savi.

Good to know

• The Diga di Ridracoli is 103 m high and, at its widest point, 36 m across; the arch is 432 m long and made from 600,000 cubic metres of concrete.
• Water from the Diga di Ridracoli feeds a hydroelectric power station.
• The dam was designed in 1974 and supplies the water networks of the Romagna coast.
• Next to the dam is the "Idro" Ecomuseo di Ridracoli, an interactive museum where visitors can experience first-hand the effect that water has had on the planet and on humankind.
• The same ticket also gives access to Idro.

Photo credits - Angela De Rubeis