Valli di Comacchio: Difference between revisions

| map = Italy | relief= yes

| location = [[Emilia-Romagna]], [[Italy]]

The '''Valli di Comacchio''', meaning "'''fish basins of Comacchio'''", are a series of contiguous [[brackish]] [[lagoon]]slagoons situated to the south of [[Comacchio]], close to the [[Adriatic]] coast of the [[Emilia-Romagna]] region in northern Italy. They lie within the [[comuni]] of [[Comacchio]] and [[Argenta, Emilia–Romagna|Argenta]] in the [[province of Ferrara]] and the comune of [[Ravenna]] in the [[province of Ravenna]].

The area, covering almost 17,000 hectares within the [[Parco regionale del Delta del Po, Emilia-Romagna|Parco regionale del Delta del Po]], the regional park of the Po Delta, is classified as a [[Site of Community Importance]] and a [[Special Protection Area]].<ref name=ER /> It is also rated internationally important by the [[Ramsar Convention]] for the [[conservation movement|conservation]] and [[Sustainablesustainable use|sustainable utilization]] of wetlands.<ref name=ramsar />

The Valli di Comacchio are a [[lagoon]] and [[wetland]] complex comprising four principal basins, The Valle Lido di Magnavacca, the Valle Fossa di Porto, the Valle Campo and the Valle Fattibello, and several smaller ones. ApproximatelyThe tenValle kilometresdi toBertuzzi theis north,located alsoapproximately inten thekilometers territorynorthward ofwithin the [[Comacchio]], is the Valle di Bertuzziterritory. The lagoon was formed around the tenth century due to subsidence of the soil and silting of the coastal zone. At the time of formation, the area was flooded with fresh water from the recurrent flooding of the rivers. From the sixteenth century on, they gradually were filled with sea water resulting in the modern appearance of brackish water-filled basins.

The original extent of the Valli di Comacchio -– covering about 73,000 [[hectare]]shectares -– was progressively reduced as a result of various [[land reclamation]] projects. The current coverage of the wetlands is around 13,000 hectares, from the Comune of [[Comacchio]] to the [[river Reno]].<ref name= ER2 /> The Valli di Comacchio remain some of the largest wetlands in Italy.<ref>Lauchlan H. Fraser, Paul A. Keddy, ''The World's Largest Wetlands: ecology and conservation'', 2005.</ref>

Some of the most common plants in the area are [[oakOak|Oaks]]s, [[pinePine|pines]], and [[beech]] trees are prevalent in higher ground areas, andwhile [[Reed (plant)|reeds]], and [[Tamarix|tamarisk]] are common in other parts of the area. Additionally, many types of flowers can be found, including several species of ''[[Limonium]]''. In this region there are many pine forests, most notably those of [[Cervia]] and [[Ravenna]] as well as the [[Mesola]] Forest.

The Valli di Comacchio are home to the greatest variety of birds of Italy. There are over 300 species of birds such as [[flamingo]]s, [[Blackblack-winged Stiltstilt]]s, [[egret]]s and other [[heron]]s and [[kingfisher]]s. In addition, there are fish such as [[bream]], [[eel]]seels, [[European seabass|sea bass]], [[Mullet (fish)|mullet]], and [[Sole (fish)|sole]]. [[Fox]]esFoxes are common.

Fishing is a common occupation: in fact there are still many fishing settlements in the area today. Typical of the area are fishing lodges mounted on poles in the water. These structures serve both as fishing stations and places to monitor for illegal fishing. Also common are [[eel]]-fishing basins called ''lavorieri''. There are numerous [[Salt evaporation pond|salt-panning facilities]] in the area.

{{reflistReflist|refs=

<ref name=ER>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/wcm/natura2000/pagine/dati/pdf/formulari/IT4060002.pdf|title=Siti di importanza comunitaria e zone di protezione speciale|accessdate=2011-04access-date=29April 2011|language=Italian it|publisher=[[Emilia-Romagna]] regional administration |date=May 2011|quote=Sites of Community Importance and Special Protection Areas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927184923/http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/wcm/natura2000/pagine/dati/pdf/formulari/IT4060002.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name= ER2>{{cite web |url=http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/wcm/natura2000/siti/it4060002.htm |title=IT4060002 -– SIC-ZPS: Valli di Comacchio |accessdateaccess-date=1May 2011 |language=Italianit |publisher=[[Emilia-Romagna]] regional administration |quote=IT4060002 – SCI-SPA: Valli di Comacchio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927185002/http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/wcm/natura2000/siti/it4060002.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=ramsar>{{citewebcite web|url=http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/sitelist.pdf |title=The List of Wetlands of International Importance |date=21 April 2011 |page=21 |publisher=The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands}}</ref>

* [{{Official website|http://www.vallidicomacchio.it/eco.htm Official website]}} {{itin iconlang|it}}

* [http://www.parks.it/parco.delta.po.er/punti/PRDPvall.html Valli di Comacchio at www.parks.it] {{itin iconlang|it}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090403023314/http://www.ildeltadelpo.it/parco_del_delta_del_po_valli_di_comacchio_i.htm Valli di Comacchio sul sito del Delta del Po]