Pollino National Park

The Pollino National Park (Italian: Parco Nazionale del Pollino ) is the largest National Park of southern Italy, which was established by a decree of President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of 15 November 1993. Also varied is the UNESCO National Park near Marina di Camerota National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano in the Cilento.

Geographical location

The Pollino National Park covers an area of ​​192 565 hectares, is the largest natural park in Italy. At the same time he is one of the largest nature reserves in Europe. It extends over two Italian regions:

  • Region of Basilicata
  • Calabria region

And three Italian provinces:

  • Cosenza
  • Matera
  • Potenza

The National Park covers the southern foothills of the Apennine mountain range, the Pollino and Orsomarso massif. It extends approximately from the Tyrrhenian Sea in the east to the Ionian Sea to the west. In the area of the National Park there are 56 municipalities with approximately 172,500 inhabitants.

Landscape

The highest mountains of the Pollino run in east-west direction, such as the Monte Cerviero ( 1443 m slm ), the Montagna di Grasta ( 1465 m slm ), the Coppola di Paola (1919 m slm ), the Serra del Prete ( 2181 m slm ), the Monte Pollino ( 2248 m slm ), the Serra Dolcedorme ( 2267 m slm ) and the Serra di Crispo ( 2053 m slm ). They form with their harsh peaks, the core area of ​​the park. In addition, the landscape is characterized by numerous rivers and streams, such as the Torrente Raganello (32 km), the Torrente Peschiera (17 km) and the Fiume Lao (64 km), over cliffs, waterfalls and along an old tree population throughout the National Park flowing. Erosion has developed over the millennia spectacular gorges, such as the Gola del Grande Lao, the Gola della Garavina and the Gola del Barile. The walls of the Gola del Raganello rise up to 700 meters steeply. The limestone -rich area has interesting caves such as the Grotta di Piezze, the Grotta di San Paolo and especially the 1961 Grotta del Romito rediscovered. Became famous for the 34 m long rock overhang with the adjoining 25 m long cave by the discovery of stone age rock carvings. Excavations in the 1960s promoted the detailed representation of two Highland cattle on a boulder to light.

Mountains and rivers

Flora and Fauna

The National Park has extensive beech forests, remote high alpine meadows, white fir and rare Panzerföhren ( Latin: Pinus heldreichii H. Christ, Syn: Pinus leucodermis Antoine ). The silhouette of this striking pine species is the emblem of the Pollino National Park. In the sheltered rock walls of the canyon golden eagle could survive. In the area of the Timpa di San Lorenzo (1652 m) are vulture and owl home. In the area of Falconara (1656 m) is widely used in addition to the wild boar and the Apennine wolf in the whole Basilicata. Despite strong hazard ( today only around 30 copies), he is never completely disappeared from the Pollino Mountains. Marmot, marten and European polecat will stay in the woods. In the extensive beech and silver fir forests, which extend from the middle of the park towards the north in 1000 to 1900 meters above sea level, there is the Wall woodpecker, the black woodpecker, the Ravens and the mountain chicken. In the up to 700 meters high canyon of Raganello and in the field of Timpa San Lorenzo nesting golden eagles and eagle owls. The numerous watercourses of the Pollino provide ideal conditions for mountain trout, otters and spectacled salamander.

Forest fires in 2007

End of July 2007 were 6267 hectares of the Pollino National Park massive arson victim. Behind the arson organized crime was suspected. The director of the park, Domenico Pappa Terra, spontaneous and shocked said: "The National Park has been devastated and turned into a moonscape. We are experiencing an environmental disaster here. The flames have destroyed the most beautiful part of the park. " In fact, 3.1% of the total park area were affected, the " most valuable areas " were spared (eg, the central massif of Monte Pollino, Serra di Crispo and the high plains in between, where most Panzerföhren stand ). As a consequence of forest fires, a plan for the prevention of fires has been developed which is based on the use of volunteers from civil defense and local associations.

Address of the Park Authority

Ente Parco Nazionale del Pollino Via delle Frecce Tricolori, 6 85048 Rotonda (PZ ) Italia

Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park Province of Cosenza Apennine Mountains Chine Fagus sylvatica Rotonda, Basilicata Martina Franca Castrovillari Corriere della Sera Die Presse Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre Gran Paradiso National Park Stelvio National Park Val Grande National Park Integrated Authority File
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