About Ancipa Dam

The Ancipa reservoir sits in the Nebrodi Mountains of north-central Sicily, impounding the waters of the Troina river at an elevation that provides a commanding view of the surrounding volcanic landscape dominated by Mount Etna to the east. Completed in 1953, the gravity dam stands 105 metres tall and holds a total capacity of 30.4 million cubic metres. Ancipa plays a vital dual role: it supplies drinking water to the city of Catania and feeds the turbines of the adjacent hydroelectric power station, making it one of Sicily's most strategically important water assets. The reservoir collects runoff from the high Nebrodi terrain, where winter rainfall and snowmelt recharge the basin each year. The surrounding landscape of beech and oak forests is part of the Nebrodi Natural Park, one of the largest protected areas in Sicily. Water scarcity has historically affected the Catania region during prolonged droughts, and Ancipa's levels are closely monitored by regional authorities. The reservoir is named after the mountain plateau beneath which it sits, a windswept upland that experiences cold winters unusual for Sicily.