Pian di Spagna plain

The Pian di Spagna level is located in front of the respective valley entrances of the Valtellina and Valchiavena valley. Pian di Spagna is a wide plain that connects the Mezzola and Lake Como and lies between the provinces of Sondrio, Lecco and Como. The Pian di Spagna plain is a humid plain of great naturalistic interest. The landscape is dominated by reeds, but there are also deciduous forests and large pastures or corn fields.
This plain is an ideal breeding area for a large number of birds and a suitable setting for all nature lovers who want to spend a few relaxing hours in the vicinity of renowned travel destinations.

Development and characteristics of the nature reserve
The development is, from a geological point of view, fairly new. In Roman times, Lake Como and Lake Mezzola formed a single, large lake, until the frequent floods of the Adda river deposited more and more material and finally formed the Pian di Spagna plain. However, the two lakes are still connected by the canal of the River Mera and for centuries the Adda also flowed into this canal by laboriously winding its way through the newly formed plain. The water supply was still unstable and caused the Residents of the neighboring villages have quite a few problems.


In 1858, when major containment works were made to channel the water of the Addas and let it flow directly into Lake Como, the situation improved dramatically . After 1858, containment work continued, the latter around 1953 and extending over an area of 119 hectares. The meanderic traces of the river are still visible today.


The nature reserve covers an area of approximately 1500 hectares and is the result of centuries of interaction between man and natural history: a mosaic of naturalistic elements and areas that are suitable for the Agriculture and pasture.
Simplified, one can distinguish 3 zones: the natural swamp vegetation landscape, the lake and the cultivated fields.
The largest swamp area is located in the northern area the Pian di Spagna plain and has a direct connection to Lake Mezzola. Further reed landscapes are located directly behind Lake Como, at Borgofrancone, along the Mera canal and in the marshy river beds or on the banks of the small canals that have emerged from the marshy river beds. The dominant species is the Phragmites australis.
From the natural landscape you slowly pass into the boggy areas, some of which are used as mowing fields, but where reeds can still be seen. This is a clear sign that the natural conditions would be restored as soon as humans no longer lend a hand.

Flora
The Pian di Spagna nature reserve & ndash; Mezzola Lake is a complex ecosystem that includes reeds, wet zones and cultivated fields.

The largest marsh area is in the northern area of the Pian di Spagna plain (Stalle della Poncetta). The dominant plant species is the reed (Phragmites australis), but the Typha latifolia, cattail, is also common.


Fauna

The waters of Lake Mera and Lake Mezzola are home to various species of fish, including perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), burbot (Lota lota), trout (Salmo trutta), allis shad (Alosa fallax) and eels ( Anguilla anguilla).

The canals, ponds and ponds are full of frogs and herbs. Among the mammals are hares, foxes, bats and various micro mammals such as the wild mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) or, less often, the skunk (Mustela putorius). The small group of deer (Cervus elaphus) that is in the nature reserve is also interesting. The otter (Lutra lutra) has not been noticed since the 1980s.


The real treasure of the nature reserve, however, are the birds, both breeding birds and above all Wandering birds. More than 200 different species of migratory and resident birds have been observed, including the Common Poor Grouse (Porzana porzana), the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), the very rare Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), the reed horn (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), the reed horn (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), the swamp reed fish (Acrocephalus palustris), the oarre (Locustum naevia), the pachateus; hypoleuca) and the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis).


In addition, 24 water bird species have been counted, including the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), the heron (Ardea cinerea), the cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the teal (Anas crecca), the wigeon (Anas penelope), the Sch snake duck (Anas strepera), the red pochard (Netta rufina), the pochard (Aythya ferina), the tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), the lion duck (Anas clypeata), the common goose (Mergus merganser) and the blue duck (Mergus merganser) Fulica atra).
In addition, a small population of wild humpback pigs (Cygnus olor) regularly nests in the nature reserve.

A bit of history
During the Roman period, Lake Como and today's Mezzola Lake formed a single body. It was only later that the sediment of the frequent floods of the Adda River collected and formed the Pian di Spagna plain. The two lakes remain connected by the Mera.
The preciousness of this area was underlined by the Ramsar Convention, an internationally very important document for the protection of humid zones and above all as a habitat for aquatic birds, which Italy signed in 1971.


Nevertheless, the path that led to the protection of this area was, as so often, arduous and rocky.
The management of the nature reserve is part of the association established in 1988 between the Comunit & agrave; Entrusted to Montane Alto Lario Occidentale, Valchiavenna and Valtellina by Morbegno.
The association drafted the management plan for the nature reserve, which was approved on December 20, 1996.

Nature trails through the Pian di Spagna plain

The nature reserve "Pian di Spagna- Lago di Mezzola" has an environmental education plan for the 2004 season/2005 created. To support this program, the nature reserve has created educational trails and trained travel guides to show the public the landscape from the most diverse angles, namely under the geomorphological, floristic and faunistic aspects.

Program
The three different aspects of the landscape of the nature reserve can be explored with a single visit or, in order to deepen the individual aspects, with three excursions .
The visits run along the nature trails that have been specially created to underline the naturalistic valence.
- Geomorphology of the area
- & Ouml; kosystem
- The humid zones
- The forest
- The lake
- Bird fauna
- Scientific Research in the nature reserve
- Agriculture, livestock, fishing

Visits
1- "Lago di Dascio", Sasso di Dascio
2- "Foce Dell'Adda- Lodoletta"
3- "Ponte del Passo- La Punta- fiume Mera"
4- "Baletrone, Poncetta"

Prices of the tours:
Visit & frac12; Day: flat rate & euro; 30.00 to 10 people, plus € 2.00 per person for each person over 10 people up to a maximum of 25 people.
Whole day: flat rate & euro; 60.00 plus € 3.00 per person for each person over 10 people up to a maximum of 25 people.

Visit to the INFS Science Center, €; 20.00 per group.

Visits must be booked at least 5 days in advance.

Information:
Consorzio Riserva Naturale
Pian di Spagna- Lago di Mezzola
Via Della Torre 1/A- 22010 Sorico (CO)
Tel +39 0344/84251- Fax +39 0344/94556
E-mail: piandispagna@libero.it