Reserves and natural oasis
Lake of Serranella

It is located in a swampy area covered by cane-brakes in the surroundings of Altino, S. Eusanio del Sangro and Casoli, in the province of Chieti. This area is run by the WWF through the Cogecstre Association from Penne and through the "Consorzio di Bonifica Sangro-Aventino". The reserve is exactly located along a flat part of the Fiume Sangro; a part of this reserve is also an artificial swamp formed by a barrage on the river made to ease the irrigation of the surrounding land. This area is characterized by a variety of swamp vegetation, there are four species of Reed-mace among which the queer Typha minima. Some other hygrophilous species are: the Water plantain, the Purple loosestrife and the Waterlily. Along the shores there is the Salix, the Blaek Alder, the White Poplars, the Black Poplars and some species of Pedunculate oak. This last one is a kind of oak characterized by the acorn with a long peduncle. This tree is mainly found along the banks of the torrent Gogna that is famous for its numerous meanders. In this environment is present the Hop, a liana-like species used to flavour the beer. On the dry land many characteristical plants of the typical Mediterranean maquis grow; among them we can find the Rockrose, the Phillyrea, the Helichrysum and some orchids. The Serranella Lake hosts many water birds, some of them are even rare such as the Spoonbill, the Glossy This, the Great white Egret, the Crane, the Shelduck, the Greater Flamingo.
Approximately 70 species of birds nest here, among them there is the Kingfisher, the Black Kite, in the cane-brake the Pintail (it nests here occasionally) which is also the symbol of this reserve, the Mallard, and the Reed Bunting. Among the Mammals it is common the Fox, the Badger, the Dormouse and the Beech Marten. In the last years it has been noticed the presence of the Coypu, a South American rodent that escaped from the breeding farms. slimy depth: the Tench, the Carp, the Chub and the Eel.
The fishes that live in these waters are those that prefer the A systematic study on the Moths determined the counting of more than 100 species, three of them are new for the central Italy. The reserve offers many facilities for visits: bird-watching tents, a natural track within the rich vegetation and a visit center equipped with a bar restaurant.
There is also an easy biking track that gives the possibility of touring the whole area.

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Regional Natural Reserves

Orta Valley

Wood of S. Antonio

Sources of Pescara

Zompo lo Schioppo

Grottoes of Pietrasecca

Lake of Penne

Castel Cerretto

Voltigno and Valle D'Angri

Gorges of Salinello

Lake of Serranella

Foro Valley

Majella Orientale