The lake extends into a
wetland back-dune area (the most important in the Province of Taranto) formed at the old mouth of the
Bradano River. Its habitat makes it ideal for the residence of
storks. For this reason, it has been protected, established by the Apulia Regional Law No. 19 of 24 July 1997. In 1996, the lake and surrounding dunes, covering a protected area of 140
hectares, were entrusted to the management of
Lipu. The lake is situated within the natural area ,
Site of Community Importance SIC IT9130006 (Directive 92/43/EEC). It is also part of the Site of Community Importance of the Ionian coast Foce Bradano SIC IT9220090. It can only be visited during the summer period. To view it, one must cross (with prior authorization) a tourist village, despite the Ginosa Municipality's General Regulatory Plan mandating public access. It is possible to visit it from the Basilicata side, in the Municipality of Bernalda, by fording the Bradano River with the assistance of naturalistic guides. To the east of the lake, in the Apulian part of it, there is a coastal tower built in the 16th century, . The protected area can be visited with the support of guides from the CEA Bernalda e Metaponto association, by prior reservation. == Flora and fauna ==