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Natural swimming ponds by Bau Mela

Bau Mela is a stretch of mountain stream in upper Ogliastra, in central-eastern Sardinia, where the water drops through two small waterfalls into a chain of pools framed by granite walls. It sits in an oak forest in the territory of Villagrande Strisaili, on the edge of Barbagia. The approach is lined with Mediterranean scrub, centuries-old junipers and fields of asphodel. The first, larger fall feeds the biggest pool, and the second splits into several smaller ones, so there is more than one spot to jump in. The same area holds Nuragic tombs, nuraghi and villages, so a swim can come with a side of prehistory.

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