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Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio |
Protected Area |
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Environment and Biodiversity |
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Somma-Vesuvio is the most important active volcanic group of continental Europe. Situated in the Plain of Campania, it is a typical example of fenced-in stratovolcano consisting of two different morphological structures: Somma caldera and Vesuvio Great Cone. Somma caldera, formed by the homonymous mountain, has a semi-circular shape and reaches its highest point with Punta Nasone (1,132 m above sea level): it represents what it remains of the ancient volcano, whose activity dates back to at least 30,000 years ago. A large depression, Valle del Gigante, divided in Atrio del Cavallo and Valle dell'Inferno, represents the inner part of the ancient caldera; within it there is the most recent Vesuvio Great Cone (1,281 m above sea level), destroyed and reconstructed more than once during ancient and recent eruptions. The fence of Somma is well preserved in its northern section and its crater edge is characterized by a series of summits, called "cognoli". Further info (Italian text) |
Flora |
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The slopes of Vesuvius and Mt. Somma are very different from a naturalistic point of view: the former is drier, has been partly subject to reforestation in order to avoid landslides and it is characterized by the Mediterranean maquis; the wettest slope of Mt. Somma is characterized by mixed woods. Several studies have demonstrated that the volcanic complex has been colonized by more than 900 vegetal species, including the extinct ones and the more recent ones; today there are 610 entities, 40% of which are made of Mediterranean species. The endemic species are only 18, probably because of the recent origin of the volcanic complex.
Further info (Italian text) |
Fauna |
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The fauna of the Park is particularly rich and interesting. Among mammals, there is the "oaken mouse", very rare in other parts of Italy, the dormouse, the beech-marten, the fox, the wild rabbit, and the hare. More than 100 species of birds live there: resident, migratory, wintering, and nesting birds. The nesting of the Buzzard, the Kestrel, the Sparrowhawk, the Peregrine, the Hoopoe, the Turtle Dove, the Woodpidgeon, the Great Spotted Woodpecker, the Rock Thrush, the Blue Rock Thrush, the Long-tailed Tit, the Nuthatch, the Raven, and the Coal Tit are of particular interest. During the winter, among the others there are the Woodcock, the Black Redstart, the Wryneck, the Song Thrush, and the Siskin. In the migratory period, it is also possible to find the Garden Warbler, the Subalpine Warbler, the Pied Flychatcher, the Redstart, the Black-eared Wheatear, the Wood Warbler, the Golden Oriole, the Bee Eater, the Nightjar, and many other species, many of which come from the South-Sahara, where they spend the winter. Among the reptiles, there are the colored green-lizard, the harmless western whip snake, and the disc-fingered gecko. Among the amphibians, there is the green toad. Among the invertebrates, we can notice the very colored diurnal and nocturnal butterflies populating the blooming of the Mediterranean Vesuvian flora. Further info (Italian text) |
Geological Aspects |
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The geological and geomorphological structure of the Somma VesuvioVolcanism in the Somma-Vesuvio area has been active since 400.000 years ago, as it is demonstrated by the presence of lava and tufa alternating with marine sediments, cored in the south-eastern part of the volcano at 1350 m of depth (Santacroce, 1987; Brocchini et al.,2001). The available data do not allow to establish if the volcanic activity derived from a central volcano or from fissural activity. |
History |
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Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio was established on 5th June 1995 with the aim to preserve animal and vegetal species, vegetal and forest associations, geological peculiarities, palaeontological formations, biological communities, biotopes, scenic and panoramic values, natural processes, hydraulic and hydrogeological balances, and ecological balances. Moreover, its purposes are the application of environmental management or restoration methods capable of integrating man and natural environment, also through the protection of anthropological, archaeological, historical, and architectural values and of traditional and agricultural-breeding activities; the promotion of didactic activities and of scientific research - also interdisciplinary - and of sustainable entertainment activities as well; the defence and the reconstruction of the hydraulic and hydrogeological balances. These tasks become even more demanding when we talk about Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, since it is the most famous volcano in the world, and at the same time one of the five most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the high urban conurbation that has recently grown up around it, with no respect of the laws forbidding to build in the area. Therefore, Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio represents an anomaly among the European Natural Parks, a sort of challenge aimed to rescue the wilderness and the charm of Vesuvius and Mt. Somma from deterioration and giving them back to the current and future generations they belong to.
Further info (Italian text) |
