Nature parks
Natural Park of the Alpe Veglia-Devero (Varzo)
Category: Parks
This Park was formed by joining the protected areas of Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero, which had previously been created in the upper Val d’Ossola (Ossola Valley), and it comprises two large Alpine valleys that mark the western border with the Lepontine Alps.
The Nature Park of the Alpe Veglia-Devero has within its territory 127 identified mineral types, and is considered to be one of the richest and most interesting parks of the entire Alpine arc, from a geological and mineralogical point of view. Many of the varieties present here were found, in particular, in the gneiss rocks of Monte Cervandone (Cervandone Mountain), some of which are not found anywhere else in the world.
The two Alpi (mountains) are, in a way, ‘twins’ because both plateaus were formed by the glaciers of the Quaternary period; therefore, it is no accident that they share the same nickname: “alps of the great east”. The vegetation is characterised by large woods of larch, alder, willow, sorbs and spruce, as well as by scrub of blueberries and rhododendron up to an altitude of 2000 metres. Above 2000 metres the pastures begin that have, over the years, taken away space from the natural humid and marshy areas. Over three hundreds botanical species have been found in the Park, of which over 20% are rare species.
The park is also home to hoofed animals: chamois, roe deer, deer and ibex; as well as other mammals, especially marmots and Alpine hares. The bird population includes golden eagles and many other birds of prey that have fixed colonies, as well as black grouse and ptarmigans, which are the most numerous.
In the Alpe Veglia remains of a prehistoric hunters’ temporary camp were found, which date back to the VIII millennium B.C. (early Mesolithic). Later, rock paintings were also found on the rock face of the Balm d´la Vardaiola, which probably date back to the IV millennium B.C. (late Neolithic).
Information
Area: 8.539 hectares
Elevation: 1.600 - 3.553 metres above sea level
Established: 1995
Location: mountain
E-mail: info@parcovegliadevero.it
www.parcovegliadevero.it
Head Office
Villa Gentinetta - Viale Pieri, 27 - 28868 Varzo (Vb)
Tel. +39.0324.72572 - Fax: +39.0324.72790
