Description
The Fiavé peat bog originated by filling in a pre-existing lake, which in turn was formed at the end of the last phase of the Würmian glaciation by a moraine dam. The lake was originally more than 20 metres deep and even larger than the present-day basin occupied by the peat bog.
The well-known pile dwellings were found here, giving this area the status of an archaeological station of international importance, recognised as one of the UNESCO World Heritage pile-dwelling sites. The pile-dwelling settlements - which are particularly extensive - were located on the shores and on an islet of this ancient basin.
The long process of accumulating the remains of dead plants resulted in a powerful peat deposit. The peat was extracted using industrial or artisanal techniques from the mid-1800s until almost the present day: in order to facilitate the work, various land reclamation measures were carried out, which led to the disappearance of the lake, still recognisable in the first half of the 1800s.
Peat extraction thus profoundly marked the environment of the peat bog, leaving behind a series of excavations now occupied by canals and ponds.
The vegetation of the nature reserve is very interesting and extraordinarily diverse. In relation to the changing conditions of the terrain, a large number of different plant communities are present, some of them very rare.
The marsh vegetation, with reeds and swamps with large sedges (Caricetum elatae and Caricetum rostratae) alternates with low peat bogs, wet meadows and swampy groves of ash willow (Salix cinerea) and frangula (Frangula alnus); water lilies (Nymphaea alba) are present in almost all the ponds.
The great variety of environments in the biotope is reflected in the fauna, resulting in its remarkable richness and diversity.
The Fiavé peat bog is an important breeding station for various amphibians, including the common toad (Bufo bufo), the green frog (Rana sinkl. esculenta) and the mountain frog (Rana temporaria).
Nesting species of aquatic fauna are numerous; among the most interesting are the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the moorhen (Gallinula choropus), the coot (Fulica atra), the wagtail (Motacilla flava) the green reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), the reed warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus).
Visiting facilities
- Visiting path
