The Orbetello’s lagoon

In a last breath of summer and this first issue of the season, we enter in the beautiful setting of the Lagoon of Orbetello. We are near the Argentario promontory that, many years ago, it was not even connected to the mainland. It was, in fact, an island lush and green, separated from the mainland by a narrow strait about 12 km wide.

Over the centuries, however, the incessant action of ocean currents transport and deposition of sediments, has forged a sandy two bridges, the pillow Feniglia and Giannella, that joined the continent to the Argentario Mount. And it is precisely these two mounts that today we find the enclosed lagoon Tyrrhenian more important.

At the gates of Grosseto, therefore, will find this stretch of water that houses a rich amount of fish. The oasis of Orbetello covers about 800 acres and preserves, along its inner side, a vast carpet of autumn that takes on a reddish color. It is even more inside, we meet the isolated groves of poplar, cork, ash and elm. Continuing further south, however, you get to the forest Patanella consisting of heather, a particular type of heather in late summer, is covered with pink flowers.

Not to mention, that the lagoon is located along a major migratory routes, so we focus thousands of birds of various types, including the beautiful bird called the Knight of Italy. Its waters, in fact, you can see many other species of cormorants, diving ducks, tufted ducks and coots, while racing on the water before take off. Not to be missed, finally, are the elegant movements of the flamingoes that scour the seabed, with a grace and elegance.

Not surprisingly, then, that given the varied beauty of this corner of paradise, now part of the lagoon is a protected WWF.

R. C.