The lake is surrounded by unspoilt nature and is a great place to walk around. Its position along the bird migratory routes has made it a stopover for many species of birds over the years, such as grey herons, cormorants, grebes, spoonbills, pochards and coots. In 2000, to safeguard the ecosystem and the species that find refuge here, Lake Arancio, together with the nearby Resinata forest, were transformed into a nature reserve managed by the Italian society for the protection of birds (Lipu).

Lake Arancio, however, is not only a wonderful oasis for nature lovers and birdwatchers. In the proximity of the town of Sambuca, you can witness a special event when the lake level drops: the re-emergence from the water of the ruins of the thousand-year-old Mazzallakkar fort. Little is known about the fort. Built by the Arabs in 830 as a stage station along the route, it remained hidden in the lake for decades, recently becoming the subject of study and research.