Fiumelatte

Fiumelatte is a short, seasonal stream on the eastern shore of Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy, known locally for its pale, milky water and extremely short course. It is commonly cited as one of Italy’s shortest rivers, flowing from a mountain spring into the lake.

The stream issues from a cave-like source at the foot of the local Prealpine slopes and reaches Lake Como after only a few hundred metres; the water’s milky appearance gives the river its name, which means “milk river.” The feature is a local curiosity and is often viewed from roadside viewpoints and short footpaths.

The flow has a marked seasonal pattern, with higher discharge in wetter months and reduced flow or intermittent disappearance at drier times of year. The site has attracted attention since antiquity and appears in local travel accounts and maps.

Fiumelatte is located near the village of Fiumelatte and the town of Varenna on the eastern shore of Lake Como in Lombardy, northern Italy. It sits against the lower slopes of the Prealps above the lake.

• Length and character: Very short, seasonal river with an often-milky colour that emerges from a mountain cave and flows into Lake Como over a distance of roughly 250 metres.
• Flow seasonality: Flow is seasonal, typically strongest in the wetter months and reduced or absent in drier periods.