Calanchi di Atri nature reserve
Calanchi di Atri is a beautiful nature reserve in the Apennines mountain range in Italy.
The Calanchi di Atri Nature Reserve is a protected area situated in the municipality of Atri, in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo. Established in 1995 under Regional Law n. 58/1995, it covers approximately 380 hectares entirely within the municipal territory of Atri, a historic town on the Adriatic side of the region. In 1999 the reserve also became a WWF Oasis; management was subsequently entrusted to the WWF Abruzzo section through the cooperative Pacha Mama. The reserve is unfenced and can be visited freely along marked trails departing from Colle della Giustizia, where the visitor centre is located.
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Geology and landscape
The reserve extends from 106 metres above sea level at the valley floor of the Piomba stream to 468 metres at Colle della Giustizia. Its central feature is the calanchi, a geomorphological erosion phenomenon typical of Mediterranean climates. The formation of a calanco requires specific conditions: predominantly clay soil with a certain proportion of sand, slopes of considerable but not excessive gradient, preferably south-facing exposure, thin topsoil, and a climate marked by intense rainfall events alternating with dry seasons. Past deforestation exposed the clay subsoil to the repeated action of rainwater and prolonged drying, producing the deeply furrowed, bare formations visible today.
The calanchi are also known locally as “bolge dantesche” (Dante’s pits) or “unghiate del diavolo” (devil’s scratches), or in dialect as “li ripe” (escarpments). The reserve also contains earth pyramids, geological formations in which a hard conglomerate cap at the apex has protected the softer Plio-Pleistocene clays beneath from erosion, producing structures reaching approximately 10 metres in height. These can be observed from two panoramic viewpoints along the Brecciara and San Paolo trails.
The European Community had already identified the area as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) before the reserve’s formal establishment.
Flora
Despite an external appearance that might suggest a scarcely vegetated environment, the reserve supports a range of plant species. On the calanchi themselves, where conditions are most extreme, capers, Pliny’s reed, wormwood of the badlands, and liquorice are among the few species adapted to the substrate. Beyond the eroded formations, the reserve extends into areas with willows, white poplar, elder, and traveller’s joy. Wild gladiolus is also present.
Fauna
The reserve’s varied habitats support a notable diversity of animal life. Among birds, several pairs of common buzzard, common kestrel, and Eurasian sparrowhawk nest within the reserve. The peregrine falcon and the lanner falcon have been recorded in the surrounding area. Among nocturnal raptors, the barn owl, little owl, tawny owl, and scops owl nest in the ruins of old farmhouses and in tree cavities. During migration, the hen harrier and Montagu’s harrier are observable. The reserve also serves as a staging and resting point for various migratory species.
Mammals recorded include the red fox, European badger, mole, hedgehog, porcupine (the symbol of the reserve), hazel dormouse, weasel, beech marten, polecat, and hare. Studies on small mammal distribution have identified nine species, including the garden dormouse and the Etruscan shrew.
Reptiles present include the four-lined snake, grass snake, slow worm, Italian wall lizard, and western green lizard. Amphibians include several species of frog and salamander, alongside the less common European green toad, found in the small artificial reservoirs used for irrigation.
The reserve also hosts a documented bat population. Bats perform an important ecological function as insectivores, limiting populations of species harmful to humans and agriculture, including mosquitoes, sandflies, and moths. Research has noted concern over declining bat numbers across Italy, attributed primarily to habitat modification, the renovation of old buildings that removes roosting sites, the use of toxic chemicals in timber treatment, the closure of abandoned caves, and the reduction of foraging habitat through intensive pesticide use in agriculture.
Access
The reserve is reached via the Atri-Pineto exit of the A14 Adriatica motorway, from which Atri is approximately 7 kilometres; brown signs within the town indicate the reserve.
[Riservadiatri.it official website http://www.riservacalanchidiatri.it ]
Foto: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Source: Wikipedia (Italian) — Riserva naturale guidata Calanchi di Atri
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