Riserva Naturale della Valle Canal Novo

Together with Grado lagoon, Marano lagoon represents the northernmost lagoon system of the Adriatic Sea.
One of the most particular and distinguishing environments of the whole regional lagoon system, with a great naturalistic value, is represented by Foci dello Stella Regional Nature Reserve. The protected area covers a surface area of 1,377 ha involving the delta of river Stella and some typical lagoon areas characterized by considerable saltiness and temperature variations and by the presence of channels and shoals with or without vegetation.
Valle Canal Novo Nature Reserve consists of a lagoon ("valle" in Italian) which was formerly exploited for fishing activities – after which the Nature Reserve has been named – and of some sowable lands. Considering its proximity to the town of Marano, the Nature Reserve houses a lagoon visitor center. An innovative project-proposal in the national context dedicated to environmental conservation and tourism.
Valle Canal Novo Nature Reserve is a protected area focusing not only on environmental conservation and scientific research, but also on naturalistic knowledge and tourism. Thanks to modern structures, adequate didactic instruments, and advanced methods, it offers new and extraordinary opportunities to discover the enchanting world of the lagoon.
Created on the model of the British "Wetlands Centres", it is an environmental conservation, interpretation, and education center focusing on the lagoon heritage, housing didactic structures for scientific experimentation and research activities.