Evoluzione geomorfologica del Lago Trasimeno

One of the most important and interesting landscape in Umbria Region is the Trasimeno Lake. The presence of this lake has deeply influenced the climatic local conditions and the associate-economic development of the surrounding territory; testimonies of this Lake are present also in the paintings of famous artists like the Perugino, while the historical oscillations of its level have influenced the evolution of the villages build up along its sides. The genesis and the paleo-geographic evolution of the Lake are related to the tectonic, in particular from the most recent extentional phase. The geomorphologic history of the Trasimeno Lake begins in fact at the end of the Pliocene when, parallel to the coastline of Paleo - Tirreno, the Valdichiana - Trasimeno valley was formed, and it was covered by a river directed towards south (paleo-Arno?). The general raising of the medium Pleistocene makes continental the territory, while the tectonic models the first valleys “intermontane”; in one of these valley the superficial outflow is collected that of it determines the progressive flooding. Lasting of the tectonic activity provokes the general tilting of the valleys towards South East and also the lake is moved in this direction leaning themselves to the Appennine’s reliefs and leaving to the West one uniform surface characterize by weak acclivity.