Oasi di Campotto and Valle Santa – Argenta

Description

The Oasi di Campotto and Valle Santa are protected natural areas in the Po Delta, located in Argenta (Ferrara).
The Campotto valleys, the remains of the ancient Argenta and Marmorta valleys, began to form in the 12^th century, when the Po di Primaro, clogged with sediment, could no longer absorb water from the various Apennine streams that flowed into it. Today the valleys act as expansion tanks, during floods they receive the waters of the lower Bolognese plain which are subsequently discharged, via sewers and dewatering pumps into the Reno river.
The area is divided into three sections:

• Cassa Campotto e Bassarone has a series of freshwater valleys and canals for flood control and numerous paths that can be accessed independently or with a guide;
• Valle Santa is characterized by vegetation, including reed thickets and extensions of water lilies, with a nearby wetland offering an ideal nesting and resting place for many bird species;
• Bosco del Traversante is one of the last strips of the hygrophilous Po valley forest: this environment, periodically in contact with water, features both shrubby and imposing clumps of trees.

Position on map