Description of the attraction
Lake Averno is a volcanic lake located in the crater of the same name in the Italian region of Campania, about 4 km northwest of Pozzuoli. Nearby are the volcanic fields known as the Phlegrean, and the lake itself is part of the vast Campanian volcanic belt. Averno has the shape of a circle with a circumference of 2 km, and its depth reaches 60 meters.
Lake Averno played a large role in the life of the ancient Romans, who considered it to be the entrance to the underworld of Hades. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning "no birds", because, according to legend, any bird that flew over the lake fell dead from the poisonous fumes. Roman poets often used the word "averno" as a synonym for the underworld: for example, Virgil placed the entrance to hell in a cave next to the lake, and from there he entered the kingdom of Hades and Odysseus.
It is not known for certain whether Lake Averno was as deadly as it was believed - today, for example, it poses no danger to birds. It can only be assumed that in the past, volcanic activity was more intense, which is why poisonous fumes were formed. But, despite all the fears and threats, the ancient Romans willingly settled on the banks of the Averno, where they built villas and laid out vineyards. The god Avernos was worshiped in the coastal temples, and a huge bathing house was built on the eastern shore of the lake.
In the 37th year BC. Roman general Marcus Agrippa turned the lake into a naval base under the name Portus Julius in honor of Julius Caesar. With the help of a canal, it was connected to the neighboring Lake Lukrino and further to the sea. Averno also had a connection with the ancient Greek colony of Kuma - through an underground passage known as the Grotta di Cocceio, which was about 1 km long and wide enough for a chariot to pass. This, incidentally, was the world's first road tunnel, which was used until the middle of the 20th century. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the grotto was seriously damaged and is now closed to the public.
