Description
The constant and abundant flow of water bursting from the ground, which arouses astonishment and curiosity in the visitor, is explained by the phenomenon of karst circulation, typical of limestone rocks, consisting of the formation of an underground water network between the rock layers, which swallows rainwater and returns it to the surface, often at great distances.
The waters that flow in the form of springs on the valley floor come from the vast Tesino plateau above. These resurgences possess a constant water flow, almost independent of the rainfall regime. In fact, during dry periods they can exploit the water flywheel constituted by the masses of water imprisoned in the tunnels between the rocky strata, while during rainy periods the underground water network disposes of the surplus water through springs that come to light on the mountain slopes, giving rise to waterfalls and temporary watercourses.
Until not many decades ago, the biotope territory was cultivated in small plots, as is still testified by the layout and morphology of the streams running through the area, almost all of which were straightened and channelled. Cadastral maps from the last century also confirm the presence of cultivated land, although they bear the name Palù, which betrays what must have been the original physiognomy of the area.
With the abandonment of agricultural activity, the vegetation has taken on a distinctly natural appearance. It is a very interesting and varied vegetation, including patches of wet meadowland in the less flooded areas, strips of reed thicket along the main watercourse, and nuclei of riparian woodland at the bottom of the valley. In addition to this, the vegetation covering the river bed, the so-called 'underwater meadow', should also be mentioned for its abundance.
The biotope area provides a valuable refuge for the fauna of a valley floor that is otherwise almost completely overgrown. Various interesting birds closely linked to the aquatic environment can be observed here, such as the moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), the dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and the kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Among the Amphibians that frequent the protected area, the uncommon tree frog (Hyla intermedia), a small bright green 'frog', is worth mentioning.
The waters of the Resenzuola spring are also home to various valuable species of fish, including brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), marbled trout (Salmo trutta marmoratus), bullhead (Cottus gobio), grayling (Thymallus thymallus) and the extremely rare Po Valley lamprey (Lethenteron zanandreai).
Studies
- naturalistic and cadastral definition project
- fauna study
- periodic avifauna monitoring
