Parco dei Nebrodi
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The Parco dei Nebrodi is a regional park around the Monti Nebrodi , a mountain range on the northeast coast of Sicily . It was opened on August 4, 1993 to protect the diverse flora and fauna of the mountains and the surrounding area.
location
With an area of around 86,000 hectares, the regional park is one of the largest in Europe. It is bounded in the north by the Tyrrhenian Sea , in the south by Etna and the rivers Alcantara and Simeto . The area includes 18 municipalities in the metropolitan city of Messina , three municipalities in the metropolitan city of Catania and two municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium Enna .
flora
The Arabs called the area of the Monti Nebrodi "island on the island" because, in contrast to other areas of Sicily, due to numerous streams, rivers and wetlands, lush vegetation can be found here even in the hot summer months.
In the lower regions citrus fruits , olive trees and almonds are grown. Various herbs and shrubs such as myrtle , mastic (wild pistachio) or gorse grow in the wild . The forests in the higher elevations are one of the largest forest areas in Sicily with an area of 50,000 hectares. Here are holm oak , cork oak , cedar , maple , chestnut , ash and book to find. Yew trees , holly and butcher's broom grow in the undergrowth .
fauna
The Monti Nebrodi got their name from the fallow deer (Greek: nebros for stag calf), which used to be native to the forest areas. Although some of the original animal species such as fallow deer or wolves were exterminated by hunting in the past centuries, the Parco dei Nebrodi is one of the most biodiverse areas in Sicily.
In addition to foxes , martens , wild cats , wild rabbits , wild boars and porcupines , 150 species of birds and 70 different species of butterflies find their habitat here. The bird species include primarily birds of prey such as buzzards , falcons , harriers and eagles . Diving ducks , coot , kingfishers , gray herons and stilts live in the wetlands .
A specialty in the Parco dei Nebrodi are the "Sanfratellani". These are rare horses , typical of Sicily , whose name is derived from the municipality of San Fratello . They are among the blacks , have a height of 150 to 158 cm and are considered to be particularly persistent and sure-footed. They are used as riding horses and pack animals. The population of almost 4000 Sanfratellani is under close observation. Another specialty are the “Suino Nero dei Nebrodi” or “Nero Siciliano”, an old breed of pigs that only includes around 1000 animals.
Further information
The area of the Rocche del Crasto, steep limestone cliffs with numerous gorges and two lakes are well worth seeing. Lake Maulazzo is located on the north-eastern slopes of Monte Soro. Lake Biviere in the municipality of Cesarò is one of the most important wetlands in the park. In summer its water turns red due to the bloom of microalgae.
Typical buildings are the Cubburi . In many of the municipalities in the regional park, museums have been set up to provide insight into the life and traditions of the former population. Old farm implements, household items and examples of rural handicrafts are on display. An old farm has been reconstructed in Bronte . In Randazzo there is also an ornithological collection and a museum with original puppets from the Sicilian puppet theater .
The handicraft products of the region include hand-embroidered bed linen and tablecloths, rush baskets, colorful reed mats and carpets, as well as artistic ceramics.
In terms of food, cheese such as B. Provola , Pecorino and ricotta , but also olive oil, honey and hazelnuts for the production of confectionery. A regional specialty is the “fellata”, a salami made from pork.
See also
Web links
Coordinates: 37 ° 48 ′ 0 ″ N , 14 ° 50 ′ 0 ″ E