The Lake System
The lakes and the springs represent another important reading key for the area of the Regional Park.
The presence of three lakes (Matese, Gallo, and Letino) on the top
plateau of the Matese has given birth to a wonderful natural habitat;
the valley where they are situated is one of the most beautiful valleys
of the Apennines and at the same time one of the best preserved valleys
as far as the landscape is concerned. For this reason, the place has
been established as Special Protection Area, according to the Directive
79/409/CEE.
The lake Matese, the highest karstic lake in Italy, collects the waters
of Monte Miletto and of Gallinola and it is important for the abundant
lacustrine flora of rushes and reeds giving the opportunity to a great
variety of aquatic birds to rest and nest in the area. Its relevance is
given both by the water aspect as feeder of bearing layers and
subterranean rivers, and for the use of hydroelectric energy.
The lakes of Letino and Gallo have been created by blocking the course
of the rivers Lete and Sava and are still used nowadays for
hydroelectric purposes.
Moreover, the biotope Le Mortine, nowadays
a WWF sanctuary for which the establishment of a Special Protection
Area has been required, is very interesting. The Cormorants (Phaalcrocorax carbo)
use the mesophile woods of the Sanctuary to sleep at night, and at the
sunset you can see about 300 of them on the trees, while the Coots (Fulica atra),
a species living in the area the whole year, are more than a thousand,
plus the specimens coming from northern-eastern Europe.
Moreover, it is necessary to quote the winter stay of the White Herons (Casmerodius albus), more than ten units in the nocturnal places of stay situated on the high-trunk trees surrounding the basin.
