Madonie Regional Natural Park
| Madonie Regional Natural Park (Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie) | |
| Protected Area | |
 The Madonie mountains: Monte S.Salvatore
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| Country | Italy |
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| Part | Sicily |
| Province | Palermo Province |
| Highest point | Pizzo Carbonara[1] |
| - elevation | 1,979 m (6,493 ft) |
| Area | 161.76 km2 (62 sq mi) |
| Plant | Nebrodi fir tree |
| Animal | Gray Wolf |
| Regional Park of Italy | 1989 |
  Location of Pizzo Carbonara in Sicily
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The Madonie Regional Natural Park (Italian: ‘Parco delle Madonie’) is an Italian regional park located in Sicily, between Palermo and Cefalù and covers 39,972 acres (161.76 km2; 62.46 sq mi).[2][3]
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[edit] Geography
It includes the Madonie mountain range and some of the highest mountains in Sicily.[2] The park has six mountains that are over 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and many more that are over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The highest is Pizzo Carbonara[1] at 1,979 metres (6,493 ft),[3] second in height only to Mount Etna.[1][2][3]
As well as being a nature reserve, the park is an inhabited area with dozens of little villages and small towns many of which trace their origins to medieval times.[2][3] The park is also home to a number of castles and numerous ancient churches. The wild mountainous slopes are inhabited by wolves, wildcats and eagles as well as being a habitat to the rare, nearly-extinct Nebrodi fir tree.[2][3][4]
[edit] History
The regional park was officially created on 9 November 1989.[3] Within the park area there are outcrops of rocks which have been dated at over a 200-million-year period and represent all aspects of the geology of Sicily apart from the current volcanic activity.[3] The collaboration of the Madonie Park authorities and the European Geoparks Network has allowed the research of students and lecturers of University of Palermo Department of Geology and Geodesy. Studies have been made, papers published and educational paths mapped out with signs erected with information on the ground. Madonie Geopark is a member of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
The park is made up from fifteen municipalities of the province of Palermo in Sicily (Caltavuturo, Castelbuono, Castellana Sicula, Cefalù, Collesano, Geraci Siculo, Gratteri, Isnello, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sottana, Polizzi Generosa, Pollina, San Mauro Castelverde, Scillato and Sclafani Bagni).
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c Landscapes of Sicily: 2001, p8
- ^ a b c d e Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie: 2009
- ^ a b c d e f g Parco delle Madonie - Guida Sicilia: 2009
- ^ Landscapes of Sicily: 2001, p12
[edit] References
- Amann, Peter H. (2001). Landscapes of Sicily. London: Sunflower Books. ISBN 978-1-85691-158-0. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1856911586/ref=nosim/schildnet0a. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- "Introducing Parco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie". © 2009 Lonely Planet Publications. LonelyPlanet.Com. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/sicily/parco-naturale-regionale-delle-madonie. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- "Parco delle Madonie - Guida Sicilia" (in Italian). © 2002-2009 - S4U sas - P.IVA 04999810825. http://www.guidasicilia.it/ita/main/perle/parcomadonie.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- Rampulla G., La Valle del Fiume Tusa nella Contea di Geraci: Pettineo, Migaido e Castel di Lucio, Patti 2007, ed. Kimerik. ISBN 978-88-6096-157-0.
- Parts translated from the Italian Wikipedia version of this article. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Parco delle Madonie |
Coordinates: 37°53′N 14°01′E / 37.883°N 14.017°E
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