Pergusa Lake
lake in Italy
Lake Pergusa (Pergoussa, Πυργούσσα in Ancient Greek) is a lake in Sicily, set between a group of mountains in the Erean Mountains chain near Pergusa, 5 km from Enna, Italy. It is a vital stop in the migratory trajectory of a great number of birds. In addition to birds, which are by far the main inhabitants of the Pergusa nature reserve, there are also interesting species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates found here. At an elevation of 670 m, the lake's surface area is 1.83 km2.
Overview
The lake is encircled by the most important racing track of Southern Italy, the Autodromo di Pergusa, that hosts international competitions and events, such as Formula One, Formula 3000 and a Ferrari Festival that has featured Formula One star Michael Schumacher.
In the area of Lake Pergusa, an archeological site known as Cozzo Matrice can be found. This site essentially houses the ruins of an old fortified village, containing imposing walls constructed around the 9th millennium BC, a sacred citadel, an opulent necropolis and the remains of an ancient temple dedicated to Demeter, dating back more than 2,000 years.
An important forest and vegetation zone named Selva Pergusina (meaning "Pergusa Wood") surrounds part of the Lake Pergusa Valley, producing a striking panorama.
In antiquity, the lake was said to be the site where Persephone was abducted by Hades.
References
Further reading
Calvo, S.; Barone, R.; Flores, L. Naselli; Orestano, C. Frada; Dongarra, G.; Lugaro, A.; Genchi, G. (30 April 1993).
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Pergusa Lake” as lake in Italy. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the places & architecture register because the source frames it as lake in Italy. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Maps, plans, fabric surveys and administrative records can establish how the site’s name, extent and function changed over time. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1800432. VIAF identifies the subject as 315162413. Authority coordinates are 37.514, 14.306. 1 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1993.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Pergusa Lake”, its source revision and the description used here.
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Pergusa Lake” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.