The Pergusa Lake, the only natural lake in central Sicily, is located 5 km from Enna, aand has originated due to a subsidence of the land. According to the mythological story of the abduction of Proserpina, daughter of Ceres, on the part of Pluto, is believed to be one of the gates of hell, perhaps for the red color that its waters are in some periods of the year. Brackish water coming from rain only because the lake has no tributaries or emissaries. Since 1995, the lake and the environment surrounding Pergusa are a Special Nature Reserve to protect, according to the official justification, of a lake that is home to a rich variety of bird life and is the only wetland of stopping in the heart of Sicily, for migratory birds.
Between April and May and between October and November Pergusa becomes a real crossroads for birds, due to its geographical position and for being an oasis in a wet landscape for many months dominated by the drought. Pergusa represents the ideal habitat for birds that make long hours of uninterrupted flight over the sea to and from Africa. Periodically, the lake, for a synergy between some of the microscopic organisms that live in it, has a unique phenomenon: its waters are tinged with red. Protagonists of this phenomenon is a little "shrimp" that, to defend himself from the rays of summer sun, is tinged with red pigment and is setting up in dense colonies in the aquatic plants. The pigment is then transferred to water and bacteria in it to give up the mirror of the lake a reddish color.

More info: TurismoEnna.it