Description of the attraction
The Laguna Marano Nature Reserve covers an area of 1400 hectares in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and, in fact, consists of two smaller protected areas - the Foci dello Stella nature reserve and the Valle Canal Nuovo nature reserve. The lagoon itself is run by the commune of Marano Lagunare, which also organizes boat tours around the area.
Most of the reserve is made up of reed beds, sandbanks and aquatic ecosystems. A feature of the Marano lagoon is the constantly changing level of salinity of the water. This feature was the reason for the formation of a unique biological diversity in the reserve - both terrestrial and aquatic species. The most diverse is the bird kingdom, which attracts thousands of tourists to the Marano lagoon.
The larger of the two nature reserves that make up the Laguna Marano, Foci dello Stella, can only be explored by boat as it is inaccessible to land routes. You can go on a water tour on it by contacting the commune of Marano Lagunare - however, it is worth remembering that groups can only consist of 80 people. The territory of the reserve includes the estuary of the Stella River and the surrounding land, covered with reeds and crossed by winding streams.
Another nature reserve - "Valle Canal Nuovo" - has great opportunities for recreation and educational activities. Most of it was once exploited for fish farming. Today, the reserve has a visitor center, an observation deck with the best view of the valley, a bird watching point and a children's playground. Various educational events for schoolchildren and students are also held here. Interestingly, the only sources of fresh water for Valle Canal Nuovo are rainwater and three artesian wells.
The main inhabitants of the Marano Lagoon are undoubtedly birds, first of all, aquatic species - various types of ducks, mute swans, whooper swans, sheaths, whistling teals and cracklings, mallards, pintails, diving and crested ducks. A rare good fortune is a meeting with a little merganser or white-eyed duck.
