Natural Park of Maremma

The Parco Regionale della Maremma ( mentioned in the EUAP as of 2003 still officially the Maremma Natural Park and colloquially Uccellina ) is a nature reserve in the south of Tuscany south of Grosseto. It was established in 1975 and covers an area of ​​about 9800 ha along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea between the towns Principina a Mare in the north, the east and alberese Talamone in the south. The area is a largely natural state and intact ecosystem.

• 4.1 draining the swamp of alberese
• 4.2 mouth of the Ombrone
• 4.3 Change in groundwater level

• 5.1 General Information
• 5.2 Tips for park visitors 5.2.1 The starting point alberese
• 5.2.2 The starting point Talamone
• 5.2.3 Marina di alberese

Landscape

The nature reserve comprises all typical landforms of the Maremma. These are

• Managed in the access area at alberese pastures and extensive pine forests,
• In the estuary of the River Ombrone swamps, shallow lakes with small dunes and
• On the rocky slopes of more than 400 meters towering mountain range Uccellina Mediterranean scrub vegetation and oak forests.

The landscape is accessible by marked hiking trails that lead to various attractions.

Attractions

• The Ruined Abbey of San Rabano is a relic, founded in 1101 Benedictine ( Monasterium Arborense ), which was converted into a fortress in the 14th century and a bone of contention between Pisa and Siena was; the victorious end Sienese they had torn down in 1438. Get Parts of the monastery church and the crossing tower.
• Several watchtowers comes in part from Pisan, partly from Florentine time to sift Saracen raids from the sea. The Torre della Trappola is located on Ombrone River and is privately owned. One of the towers Torre di Castel Marino (possibly 13th century), Torre di Cala di Forno Collellungo and Torre (both built under Cosimo I de ' Medici ) lead hiking trails. Excursions from the south go to Torre Rivolta and Torre Cannelle (16th century). Also, the tower next to the Abbey of San Rabano ( Torre dell'Uccellina ) was a watch tower. More towers are inaccessible deep in the scrub.
• In the area of ​​Ombrone River estuary, the historical water regulation systems for the controlled discharge of river water are still preserved in the side channels. Furthermore, here is a nature trail to the emergence of the marsh and a bird observation station are set up. In the wetlands, the salt water of the sea mixes with the fresh water of the river, so that occur here both freshwater and saltwater fish simultaneously. The natural beach of Alberese runs 6 km from the river mouth to below the abbey ruins, but only about 2 km are released as hiking area.
• Prehistoric caves attest to the colonization of the area since the Paleolithic period ( until about 12,000 years ago). Tools of Neanderthals (Homo sapiens neadertalensis ) were found in large numbers and are of historical and paleontological significance. The oldest finds were made in the Grotta dello Scoglietto in the north of the park. Apparently this cave was used for a very long time, because they found dozens of burials from the Bronze Age. Particularly noteworthy are human skull with traces of drill holes.

Wildlife

Extensive held Pets

On both sides of the road to Marina di alberese pastures extend the Maremma horse ( cavallo maremmano ) and the maremmana, a special, occurring only in the Maremma bovine species that precipitates greater than the Domestic Cattle, grauscheckig and with big horns.

Wild Animals

In the surrounding vegetation zones of Uccellina hills wild boar, porcupine, fox and hare, deer and badgers live.

Secluded rocky areas offer rarer species such as the wild cat and the stone marten habitat.

Primarily, however, the Natural Park of Maremma understood as a bird sanctuary. Many species of birds live here throughout the year; In addition, the park is a winter home for migratory birds and Sommernistplatz.

Year-round bird species present

Besides many also live outside of the Natural Park European songbird species there are in the field and forest areas in all seasons

• Birds of prey (such as buzzards and kestrels ) and
• Nocturnal birds ( barn owl, eagle owl )

Are in the wetlands

• Mallard,
• Coot,
• Herons and
• Egrets

Throughout the year represented.

In particular, the wetlands are rich in species. Very endangered species such as the European Roller ( Coracias garrulus ), the Häherkuckuck ( Clamator tinnunculus ), and others will find suitable nesting areas. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is ideal nesting on the cliff walls.

Migratory birds

In Uccelina - mountain with forests and scrub- breeding in summer, the cuckoo, the nightingale, the jays and other species of songbirds, further tighten the south in winter.

In these areas draw for the winter from the north of the wren, woodcock and the robin.

A common summer breeding birds in the area of ​​Ombrone estuary is the bee-eaters; whole colonies line in the warm months, the rivers, where they dig for breeding programs in overhanging sand walls or in the ground.

It overwinter in the shallow lakes of this area some additional duck species (eg wigeon and diving ducks ). Plovers, lapwings, curlews and wild geese come every year to do so. Furthermore draw smaller birds like kingfishers, warblers and chickadees bag from northern regions during the winter months in southern Tuscany.

Reintroduction of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

The osprey (Italian Pescatore Falco ) is sensitive to changes of its habitat. Mid-20th century it was increasingly pushed back. Hunting, nest predator and environmental toxins led to the fish predator in the Mediterranean almost extinct. Low stocks there were in Corsica, the Balearic Islands and the North African coast in Algeria and Morocco.

In the Réserve naturelle de Scandola in Corsica re rearing succeeded. Thanks to good contacts between the parks in Corsica and in the Maremma, the project for the reintroduction of the Parco Regionale della Maremma could be realized: 40 days old juveniles were captured in Corsica and exposed in Uccellina. Overall, there were between 2006 and 2010 33 chicks. In the ideal habitat for them at the mouth of the Ombrone avian species was once more at home. 2011 brooded for the first time a couple. Detailed information about can be seen in the Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma di Grosseto.

Water Resources

Draining the swamp of alberese

Like other parts of the Maremma was also the area of alberese and the mouth of the Ombrone very marshy. Thus, the drinking water, malaria was very common, often not clean.

Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1828 began his estate alberese to redevelop. This project was part of comprehensive measures to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants on the shores of Tuscany. Due to the political turmoil of the Risorgimento, the popular Granduca was forced to resign in 1859. In the following years, the government of the new state Italy would have been responsible for the continuation of the work, but these duties were neglected. Leopold's son and last Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand IV, continued his father's work and made ​​great efforts to dry the swamp in alberese.

With a sophisticated system of canals, the water is discharged - a tricky task given the small slope near the sea. A network of smaller and larger channels to the two main drainage canals, the Grand Essicatore (literally drainage channel) and the Grand Scaricatore (literally: Culvert ) of water. The total length of all the large and small channels is 45 km. At the mouth of the Ombrone a suction pump was installed ( Idrovaro San Paolo ), the river itself with an ingenious regulating system of locks: The invented by Leonardo da Vinci locks (porte Vinciane ) allow the outflow of fresh water when the sea level is lower than that of the river. At high tide, the door locks are similar pressed by the rising water inside, so that the intrusion of salt water is no longer possible.

In 1840, the seed was begun in the now dry zone near the sea auszusähen of different pine species. These are the pine (Pinus pinea), the beach pine ( Pinus pinaster ) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis). This should on the one hand be strengthened and prevented from walking the dunes, at the same time the cultivated fields were protected from the sea winds. The seeds of the pine mature in three years and are harvested.

The drainage works were a great success, among other things, improved the sanitary conditions of the population, the number of deaths fell sharply: Counted the Good alberese 1841 only 26 residents, so there were already 220 people in 1919.

The buildings for the regulation of the waters were asked repaired again in the years 2010 to 2013: suction pump and locks were replaced, also a mighty wall was created parallel to the coastline. He should stop coastal erosion and the salinization of the swamp waters. In the course of this work and the temporarily closed nature trail and also no longer accessible bird watching station on stable foundations were rebuilt. Further work is in progress and planned ..

Mouth of the Ombrone

In historical times the Ombrone led a lot of sand and sediment. The material was deposited in the estuary, it formed a considerable delta.

However, since the mid- 50s of the 20th century, the coastline changed a lot and moves inland. The older residents of the Maremma are of the opinion that this was due to the construction of the port of Punta Ala further north. The sea currents have changed by the massive intervention.

Other influences can not be overlooked, however: After the devastating floods of 1966, the river and its tributaries was redeveloped in the lower reaches and channels. Thus, it takes significantly less sediment. Waves and currents of the sea may thus have a greater impact and flood sediments in the estuary away.

Finally trawls by fishing boats and yachts anchor damage the seabed off the coast.

The fact is that the coast has been pushed back to 350 m inland at the mouth of the Ombrone 1954-1985. The beach facilities by Marian alberese as bath houses, restaurants, etc. had to be abandoned, streets and trails are no longer accessible or completely disappeared. The delta was cleared more and more, today the estuary presents rather than estuary. It is understood that these changes also on vegetation and bird life has a great influence. Erosion is further underway.

Change in the groundwater level

The erosion of the coast and the increasing consumption of groundwater for agriculture in the region cause the groundwater has received an increasing salinity. This also has an impact on the vegetation: Many plants, especially the pine dry up, more and more. This is especially on the northern and the southern end of the Parco Regionale della Maremma very visible.

Access

General Information

The park is open throughout the year and every day of the week. Exceptions exist in the hottest season. Tickets for the visit to the park are available at the box offices of the visitor centers. With your own car may only visitor centers of Alberese and Talamone as well as a car park on the beach ( Marina di alberese 42 ° 38 ' 56.18 "N, 11 ° 2' 7.6 " O42.64893811.035445 ) be approached. Warning: it has only a certain number of car space; access is controlled by a barrier. From the visitor center in alberese regular buses for hikers in the Nature Park (up Pratini, starting point of four hiking trails ) and for bathers to the sandy beach at Marina di Alberese. In the summer of catering facilities in Marina di Alberese.

Tips for park visitors

Top of the Park is visited outside of the summer. Autumn, winter and spring are recommended. In the summer it can get very hot. For longer hikes enough water for drinking must be taken in all cases, because there are no sources or wells go. Proper footwear (boots ) is recommended for the hiking very much, because the roads are partly rocky and steep. Before the visit to the park, it is advisable to check with the visitor centers in detail. In alberese there are several ways to rent out bicycles.

There are also guided tours outside the generally accessible way and at special times offered ( wildlife watching, bird tours, night hikes, canoe trips ). Information in the visitor center.

Starting point alberese

From Alberese lead seven different lengths and different challenging trails. In high summer, the trails are A3 (from Pratini to the caves ) and A4 (of Pratini to Cala del Forno ) locked. This is a measure to prevent forest fires.

For the same reason, the paths can be committed only in guided groups at this time A1 (of Pratini to San Rabano ) and A2 (from Pratini to the towers ).

Starting point Talamone

From Talamone lead three walking trails in the park. The trails around Talamone can only be reached through the visitor center Caprarecce. In summer, the hottest time of the day no access (protection against forest fires )

Marina di alberese

From the road to Marina di alberese a path branches off towards Ombronemündung. Riverside bird watching station has been rebuilt. A wealth of information about the observed birds. Binoculars recommended.

Code of Conduct

• Always stay on marked trails.
• Respect the environment. So take no stones and enter the sand dunes careful.
• Plants and animals respect, so do not collect specimens.
• Avoid noise.
• No waste, and no organic, leave.
• The lighting fires is everywhere strictly prohibited at any time.
• Anything that could cause a fire must be avoided ( Glasscherben! )
• When fences use the funds earmarked for pedestrian crossings and leave the gates as they are found.
• Do not touch or feed wild animals ( foxes are sometimes very tame ). This dangerous bites and the transmission of diseases can be avoided.
• Pets (dogs ) are not allowed in the park, not even on a leash.