Lake Garda landmark to be purchased as Polish park faces water level changes

In Italy, the autonomous province of Trento has decided to purchase the Casa della Trota complex, formerly known as Hotel Ponale, located on the western shore of Lake Garda. The authorities will invest 2.3 million euros to acquire the property situated near the mouth of the Ponale stream. The plan involves restoring the 18th-century portion of the building while demolishing unprotected, abandoned additions and clearing nearby ruins. This acquisition is expected to allow for better management of the area and will influence the Ciclovia del Garda cycling route, potentially changing its path to avoid a planned tunnel.

In Poland, the Arboretum Park Gródek in Jaworzno, often referred to as the ‘Polish Maldives,’ has experienced a significant drop in water levels. The receding water has fully exposed walking walkways and rock excavations that were previously submerged. Hydrologists and local officials note that these fluctuations in the ‘Wydra’ and ‘Koparki’ reservoirs are natural, as they are post-mining sites connected to groundwater levels rather than isolated basins. The water levels change based on rainfall, snowmelt, and temperature, and the city does not plan to intervene in these natural hydrological processes.