Parco Gargano!

 

Gargano National Park

Region Type: National Parks

EUAP Encoding: EUAP0005

Regions: Puglia

Provinces: Foggia

Common: see text

Class.internaz.: IUCN category II

Site of Community Interest

Establishing measures: LN 394 12/06/1991

Land surface: 118,144 has

Manager: Ente Parco Nazionale del Gargano

President: Mr Stephen Sheehan

Institutional website

"The Mount Gargano is more varied that you can imagine. He has his heart in the Foresta Umbra, with beeches and oaks that are 50 meters in height and a trunk of an armful of 5 meters, and the age of Methuselah, with pine, maple, yew, with a lush, color The idea that the seasons have on the time of enchanted evening with deer, rabbits, foxes that escape from between his feet, with every warble, whine, chirping of birds ... "

(Giuseppe Ungaretti)

The Gargano National Park is a nature reserve established by Law No 394, 6 December 1991 [1]. It is located in Puglia and precisely in the extreme north-east, often called "Spur of Italy". The territory (118,144 ha) is located entirely in the Province of Foggia and the Italian side closer to the Croatian coast.

[Edit] Geography [edit] Territory covers 118,144 hectares (one of the largest protected areas in Italian). The park is also part of the Mountain Community of Gargano. They are part of the park the four islands Tremiti (marine reserve).

Inside the park is the Umbra Forest.

The Gargano is composed mainly of sedimentary rocks, limestone and dolomite dating from the Jurassic and Cretaceous, mostly stratified and affected by the phenomenon of karst dissolution. An exception lada Punta Pietre Nere, the mass of dark volcanic rocks dating from the Triassic, outcropping on the beach in Hvar. The karst phenomenon, produced by water and carbon dioxide on limestone has "sculpted" in many ways the landscape.

Along the edge of the limestone block are large erosion ruts that trend with radial head towards the sea or the captains. It is rocky gorges (linked to the phenomenon of "valleys dry" or "valleys"), caused by erosion and karst mechanics [2].

[Edit] Karst

The Dolina PozzatinaTra the countless manifestations of karst there are over 4000 sinkholes that dot the Gargano area, closed basins produced by the collapse of the ceiling of caves and the action of water erosion that communicate with the underlying aquifer.

The sinkhole Pozzatina, more than 100 meters deep with a diameter of about 500, is the largest in Europe. The process of karstification surface are due the many plowed fields, rock outcrops marked by the runoff of rainwater.

The process of deep karstification can be explained the existence of more than 600 caves of archaeological interest many of which (inhabited from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age). To these are added the 128 caves, originated first as underground phenomena and later stripped due to the demolition of the limestone by the waves. Until the eighteenth century was also a karst lake, but then the barriers to the flow were blown up with explosives and the bed was completely drained. [2]

As for the permeability can be distinguished:

Permeable karst rocks mainly due to the karst limestone of the cracks started organogenic white irregularly stratified and subvertical fractures.

Mixed permeability rocks and cracking that occurs in karst dolomite and dolomitic limestone with flint gray [2].

The land of the Gargano, originated from the degradation of limestone, are:

brown soils with a high moisture content, and dolomitic limestone substrate on Paleogene (mainly in the upper middle of the forest). Correspond to the so-called brown Mediterranean forest lands mesophilic profile where ABC owns the A horizon and the humus type molliforme B shows a significant enrichment of clay;

decalcified Mediterranean red soils, with a thin A horizon and B horizon with a powerful multi-faceted structure, which are found in the lower part [2].

[Edit] Hydrography

Lago di Varano

Lake LesinaSul Gargano is completely absent from the river environment and there is no real surface drainage network. The exception is a small area to the north, where most of the few rivers of limited length and scope, mostly tributaries of Hvar and Varano lagoons, two pools of brackish water with a total area of ​​11,000 ha.

The underground hydrography, however, is very rich: the prevalence of karst phenomena causes the immediate penetration of 3 / 4 of precipitation. The distribution of rocks at different levels and types of permeability, determines the presence of two distinct aquifer systems of which one (major aquifer) occupies the entire headland and the other (secondary layer) is confined to the area of ​​Vico and Ischitella [3].

They are part of the park, two lakes located in the north-western

Lake of the Hvar, 24.4 km long and 2.4 km wide, has a perimeter of nearly 50 km and is in effect a lagoon. It is divided into two pools: a child of the same name which overlooks the town of Hvar and a longer East Sacca said. The shores of the lagoon are slightly tilted, the bottom is muddy tendenzialmnte and adjust, giving an average depth of 70 cm (it is only the shallow lagoon) [4];

Varano Lake is the largest in southern Italy (60.5 km ²). Tend to be trapezoidal in shape, is separated from the sea by a linqua of land 10 km long Island). It is fed by numerous underwater springs of fresh water flowing from nearby mountains Cagnano Varano. Famous for eel fishing, once the lake had to be a bay whose mouth was closed by a strong storm water that submerged the town of Varano. [4]

[Edit] Towns

Beach Park MattinataIl affects 18 municipalities in the provinces of Foggia:

island: Tremiti

Coastal: Morning, Peschici, Rhodes Garganico, Manfredonia, Vieste

interior with important coastal villages (in brackets): Ischitella (Foce Varano) Vico del Gargano (San Menaio), Hvar (Hvar Marina)

internal and foothill: Apricena Cagnano Varano, Carpino, Monte Sant'Angelo, Rignano Garganico, San Giovanni Rotondo, San Marco in Lamis, San Nicandro Garganico Serracapriola

[Edit] Gallery fotograficaPeschici

Rodi Garganico

Vieste

Vieste

Vico del Gargano

San Menaio

Plain Calenella, Vico del Gargano

Morning

[Edit] Flora

UmbraNel Forest National Park of Gargano gather unique habitats, from dense forests and extended to the Mediterranean, from large karst plateaus with steep cliffs with sea caves, wooded valleys that descend to the sea, coastal lagoons, hills and plains steppe (such as the Fens of Federico II).

The flora is therefore very varied and unique: there are about 2,200 plant species (about 35% of the national flora). Due to climatic conditions and the northerly winds that are loaded with moisture, on the Gargano promontory about fall 1300. water in the form of rain. This allows the development of a microclimate in which some plant species can live in conditions not found in other parts of Italy and the world inside and beech woods on the north, the pine forests of Aleppo pines along the coast, large extensions of the Mediterranean, not to mention the abundance of oaks and holm oaks where, the mixed forest-rich ash, ash, elm, holly, chestnut, maple, oak, beech, etc. [5].

The undergrowth is home to many species: ferns, brambles, wild roses, cyclamen, edible and poisonous mushrooms, etc..

On the slopes exposed to the sun grow pear trees, the melastri, surrounded by the thorn bushes, mastic, juniper, thyme, brambles, prickly pear and the particular "tree of the devil" (carob).

In the foothills the vegetation changes dramatically and is dominated by desert, full of prickly pears, daffodils, splints, euphorbia, iris, which grows in a very particular fungus Pleurotus eryngii. Everything is interrupted here and there with olive groves, almond groves, vineyards and wheat fields [5].

Other areas of special Gargano:

marshes of Frederick II, wetlands and the Oasis of Frattarolo Salty Lake, divided into two zones: one where the straw marsh reign supreme, the fans, the eucalyptus, the water lily and the other dominated by the xerophilous flora or Salicornia, reeds, tamarisk, etc.;

Coastal lagoons are characterized by a forest intralitorale growing on the thin strip of sand that separates them from the sea (called the "island") in which it grows and the cyst and numerous Clusio reeds that surround the shores.

In the internal areas of the promontory (Ischitella forests, Manatecco, Broom, Sfilzi, Umbra, Bosco Quarto, Umereta of Ripe) are distributed vast forests of beech trees, oaks, cedars, and sometimes associated with Farnetti, elm, ash. [5 ]

Other woods of natural interest are also those of Monte Sant'Angelo, Monte Sacro (morning), Spina Flea (between St. Nicander and Garganico Cagnano Varano [5].

On the coast overlooking the pine trees instead of Aleppo, some 7,000 hectares, which alternate to the Mediterranean, rich in slow formations, fillirea, Erica multiflora and arbutus. [5]

The Gargano island can be considered organic. The highest part of the promontory, in fact, has been isolated for a long prehistoric period, due to this, phenomena such as:

endemics, including: From the door of the rare vedovina (Scabiosa dallaportae), the Gargano bellflower (Campanula Gargano), savory (Satureja fruticosa Italy), Broom (Cytisus DECUMBENS), the enula (Inula candida), the cyst of Clusio (Cistus cluded), rare species observed in the dunes of Hvar, the Tremiti cornflower (Centaurea diomedea) and the grass Ghiacciola (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum).

the macrosomatismo, abnormal growth of plant species as the carob tree, 13 meters in circumference, in the park Pugnochiuso in Vieste, and Holm, 17 meters high, with 5 feet in diameter at the Capuchin convent in Vico del Gargano. [ 5]

Ophrys holosericea subsp. apulia [edit] Orchids Main article: Orchids of the Gargano.

The promontory of Gargano, geographically separated from the Apennines, stretching out to Eastern Europe, is a hot spot of biodiversity due to the presence of wild orchids, which have been recorded over 80 different species belonging to 17 genera, some of which are endemic or subendemiche Ophrys Gargano promontory, sipontensis Ophrys, Ophrys Argolic subsp. Biscutella, Ophrys bertolonii subsp. bertoloniiformis, Ophrys holosericea subsp. Apulia Ophrys holosericea subsp. parvimaculata, Ophrys exaltata subsp. archipelago, Ophrys Scolopax subsp. cornuta, Ophrys iricolor subsp. lojaconoi, and Serapias quadripunctata Orchis orientalis subsp. Apulia.

[Edit] FaunaIl Gargano National Park in a little extension enclose a wide ranging biodiversity among the most diverse habitats that make up the nature of the Mediterranean. These characteristics delineate a considerable diversity of fauna.

[Edit] UccelliNidificano Gargano in about 170 species of birds (out of 237 breeding in Italy). In the forests of the inner five species of woodpeckers living: green, red, major, minor, medium and white back.

Other birds that nest on the "Mountain of the Sun" are: the buzzard, the harrier, kestrel, peregrine, sparrowhawk, Lanner falcon, hawk and the marsh harrier. Are present during the migration period, including ospreys and lesser spotted eagle. Among the owls instead: the eagle owl, the screech owl, barn owl, the tawny owl and the scops owl.

Gargano habitat is also found several species of finches, tits, thrushes, blackbirds, fieldfare and pigeons, as well as colonies of corvids: crows gray jays, jackdaws and a few pairs of ravens.

Nest in wetlands about 46 species linked to aquatic environments, including the little egret, heron and purple heron, the bearded, the bittern, heron heron and night heron, mallard, teal, the teal, tufted duck tobacco, Shoveler, the smallest carrier, the Kentish knight of Italy, the moorhen, coot, great crested grebe and so on.

The consistency of these species increases considerably reaching large numbers of 15000 to 30000 units with species such as wild geese, granaiole, fronted, swans, flamingos, mignattai, avocets, shelducks, gadwalls and tufted ducks, cormorants, several species of gulls and terns, jays bee-eaters and marine, etc..

In the reeds, are instead cannereccioni, reed warblers and cherry tomatoes in the fall a large colony of starlings. Swamps in the area of ​​Frattarolo in autumn and spring you can see, black-tailed godwit, gossips pantane, sandpipers and other species of sandpiper, sea-partridges, lapwings, plovers, curlews, snipe, whisks, not to mention the newly re-introduced (under LIPU the aegis and funding of the Park) Hunchback of rusty

In the pastures of the steppe belt between pedegarganiche innumerable difficulties, survive the extinction bustard and curlews, skylarks, calenders, hats and Nightjar.

In the groves, as well as numerous songbirds in the spring, many doves and orioles nest, while in the pastures and steppes pedegarganiche you can hear the song of the corn bunting.

Along the coasts and in parts of the ancient towns of Gargano and the heavens are crossed by flights of swifts, swallows rare reddish, martins, mice, alpine swifts and swallows pale.

Some species are subject to specific conservation projects funded by the European Union LIFE project, "Gargano of Prey" [6], which has among its objectives the protection of the last couple of Lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus), the rarest falcon on the Gargano and to promote the formation of colonies of lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and eagle owl (Bubo bubo).

[Edit] MammiferiTra mammals is known Italic roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus), subspecies subendemica Gargano. Live in this area even the most common wild boar, deer, weasels, martens, wild cats (in the dense undergrowth of the Forest Umbra), hares, hedgehogs, moles, badgers, foxes, dormice, octopus, several species of mice and voles.

It is instead the monk seal extinct, certainly present in some caves Tremiti until a few decades ago.

olonies of bats living in the caves of the bat species (Nyctalus noctula), horseshoe (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and so on.

[Edit] Reptiles and amphibians and reptiles AnfibiTra, very present, are the major terrestrial and marsh turtle, the slow worm, adder of the adder and smooth Aesculapius, the luscegnola, the warty gecko, the common viper, the Cervone, the grass snake, the lizard, the lizard, etc.. Amphibians are present in the tree frog, green frog and the Dalmatian, and the common toad and the emerald crested newt and Italic. These animals occupy the marshes, canals, lagoons and the banks of Cutini in various wooded areas of the park.