Valle dei Calanchi (Valley of Badlands) is located in the province of Viterbo with a large part of its surface area being considered for inclusion as a protected area. This territory, known as Forre della Teverina, of significant natural value is included in the municipalities of Bagnoregio, Castiglione in Teverina, Celleno, Civitella d'Agliano, Graffignano and Lubriano. It contains notable artefacts to the Etruscan period.
Badlands are formed by a particular type of erosion created by atmospheric agents (rain water in particular) in the Pliocene clay that was deposited in layers by the ocean mostly around 2 million years ago. The relative mobility and disconnected nature of this geological layer leads to erosive action that for deep channels in the hills and prevent the growth of vegetation. Above the layers of badlands are layers formed by the volcanic eruptions of the Vulsini mountain range.
The different geological layers can be seen in the hill beneath Civita di Bagnoregio: the lower part is limestone foundations and sandy clay, above it more sand and conglomerates.
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