GLENO DAM

Today, I want to tell you about my trekking experience at the Gleno Dam, a fascinating and mysterious place in Val di Scalve, in the province of Bergamo. The Gleno Dam is one of the most famous engineering failures in Italian history: built between 1916 and 1923 to produce hydroelectric power, it collapsed on December 1st, 1923, due to grave design flaws and poor-quality materials. The resulting catastrophe killed more than 350 people and devastated several villages throughout the valley.

The dam was 260 meters long and 52 meters high, designed to hold six million cubic meters of water in an artificial lake fed by the Povo and Nembo creeks. It was the only example in the world of a mixed gravity and multiple-arch dam, but its structure was unstable and poorly constructed: the arches were not resting on solid rock but on the gravity plug, and the concrete used was of abysmal quality. When the dam broke, a mass of 4.5 million cubic meters of water surged into the valley with devastating force, sweeping away houses, bridges, power stations, and lives.

Today, the Gleno Dam stands as a monument to the memory of the victims and a tourist attraction for lovers of nature and history. It can be reached via a walk of about an hour starting from the parking lot in Dezzolo, a hamlet of Vilminore di Scalve. The path is well-marked by the CAI (number 411) and does not present any particular difficulties. You pass through a beautiful spruce forest and reach a spectacular section carved into the rock, overlooking the valley. From here, you can already see the dam, appearing like a white scar against the green landscape.

Once you reach the dam, you can admire its imposing yet decaying appearance up close: the arches are still standing but show cracks and holes, while the rest of the structure has collapsed downstream. Behind the dam, the small artificial lake remains; it has an emerald green color and is home to several fish species. You can walk around the lake following a path that passes by the remains of the pipes and power stations. The panorama is evocative and full of contrast: on one side, the beauty of nature; on the other, the tragedy of history.

Trekking to the Gleno Dam was a very interesting and engaging experience for me: I was able to discover a place rich in charm and historical significance, while also reflecting on the consequences of human choices on the environment. I highly recommend visiting this place if you find yourself in Val di Scalve or the surrounding area: it is truly worth it!