In the Italian Dolomites, below its rocky spires,
lies Lake Carezza, also known as KarerSee. The lake is known for its amazing
colors. Some people believe that precious stones were laid at the bottom of the
lake, reflecting its rainbow colors. Or maybe there is a different explanation
for it, which leads us to a legend.
A very long time ago, the most beautiful mermaid
with the most enchanting voice was seen at the shores of the Lake Carezza.
Whenever somebody tried to approach her, she would spring instantly back into
the water.
Between the lake and the rocky Dolomites, in the
dense forest lived a mean sorcerer. The first time he noticed the mermaid, he
made up his mind of her belonging to him. Every day he tried to approach the
mermaid and every day she would disappear into the waters right in front of his
eyes. After seven days of trying, the sorcerer grew very inpatient. He sent lightning
hitting the surface and splashing the water to the surrounding forest. He sent
waves to shake the lake’s water out of its basin.
Nothing worked until one day he noticed birds
perched on the surrounding trees and listening to the mermaid’s singing. Then,
an idea sprang into his mind. He would change himself into an otter and swim in
the lake. This is how he would catch the mermaid.
Well, the birds sense that the otter was not really
an otter and twittered furiously to warn the mermaid. She sensed the bird’s
warning and dived into the lake. The sorcerer disguised as otter chased the
mermaid around the lake once, twice, three times. But mermaid was so much
faster, exhausted and drenched sorcerer quit the chase.
While walking home and grumbling, suddenly he
remembered about a mountain witch. He rushed up the mountain where she lived. After
sorcerer was done explaining his situation, she laughed at him, “What kind of
sorcerer are you, if you can’t catch a mermaid?” But she wasn’t interested in
his answer. She waived her hand and said, “Do you know what a rainbow is?” The
sorcerer rolled his eyes and the witch continued, “I’m glad you do. What you
need to do is create a beautiful rainbow coming from above the mountains and
going into the lake. The mermaid doesn’t know what a rainbow is. When she sees
its colors, she will want to follow it. Meanwhile, you need to disguise
yourself as an old peddler with a sack on your back filled with glittering
things and make your way slowly towards her. Remember to make a small hole in
your sack to let the trivialities drop slowly to the ground. When she sees your
pretty trifles, tell her that you have lots of them at your home; that beautiful
princess from far lands come to buy them from you. So she will want to follow
you instead.”
The sorcerer was very pleased with this idea. Right
from the witch’s house he climbed higher to the mountains’ peaks, from which he
dropped a rainbow to the lake. The mermaid sitting at the shore noticed the
amazing rainbow.
The sorcerer rushed down the mountains. Out of excitement,
he forgot to disguise himself. As soon as he approached the lake and saw the
mermaid in that instance he realized his mistake. But it was too late. The
mermaid was already hidden in the lake’s water.
Furious sorcerer tore up the trees and threw
boulders around. At the end, he plunged the rainbow violently into the lake.
Then he turned on his heel and was never seen again.
The rainbow sank into the lake’s water and until
today reflects its beautiful colors.
Source: The Pale Mountains by Carl Felix Wolff
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