Damp Environments

Despite the profusion of water resources in the Park there aren’t, on the surface, large extents of damp environments since the calcareous rock composing most of its mountains are liable to the carsism phenomenon: a large extent of rainwater and snow dissolution flows and leaks in the subsoil and then comes out in numerous and flowing springs located on the ground of great mountains. For this reason damp environments, torrents, rivers and ephemeral pools play a key role for animals, plants and for migratory birds of the Park. From an ecological point of view, the rivers, in the role of ecotone environments (for transition between different ecosystems), function as home, haunt and “rest-stop” for a large number of animals; in spite of their small cross-sectional extent these rivers give hospitality to an amazing floristic and faunistic range. The Orta River - originated near the San Leonardo Pass - crosses the Park in its middle, runs along the valley that divides the Majella from the Morrone and then flows into the Pescara river that touches at North-West its territory. The Orta river is full of clean water and fishes and is, together with its feeder Orfento, the ideal habitat for the Otter.

The eastern side of the Park overlooks the Valley of Aventino river, the springs of which are located in Capo di Fiume, just inside the protected area; its water, since the local hydrogeologic status, comes from faraway namely from the swallowers in the Carsic Plateau of Quarto di Santa Chiara. Other important water courses are the Foro river, on the Eastern side of Pretoro, and Vella river that, originated from the Central-Western zone of the Park, lightly touches the city of Sulmona.

Also the dripping environments are worthy of mention, as the water sets, coming down from the rock face drop by drop, the shaping of fields full of mosses and ferns. It is possible to find, next to these environments and near the falls, noteworthy travertine formations. This deals with a rock formed by precipitation of calcium carbonate, following up a loss of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water, like it happens next to drops or falls. This gas reduction is possible thanks to the action of certain plants, especially the mosses part of Cratoneurion’s group, which soak from water the carbon dioxide in order to achieve the chlorophyll photosynthesis. So the calcium settles on mosses or on other plants, the organic parts are reduced and that space remains empty: that is the reason why the travertine shows a lot of pits in its inner part and even imprints of plants or twigs. Typical of dripping faces is the Fiori Pinguicola, endemic of Majella, kind of carnivorous plant that catches insects with its gluey leaves: the ground where it grows are poor in nourishing substances, among which the azote, so the plant acquired an expedient that enables to amend the lack of these elements.

Among the remarkable damp environments there are also the Quarti, placed on Southern side of the Park. This deals with carsic plateaux featured by wading of Vera river that sinks in a swallower. In the spring like period, the snow dissolution creates seasonal lakes that give way, because of seasons alternation, to mesophyll grasslands with rich blooming of wild Narcissus and Buttercups. Where the water constantly overstays there are the Magnocaricetea: it deals with a relictual vegetation, a euro-siberian type spread in passed ages (when the climate was damper and colder), characterized by different species of Carex some of which very unusual.

The presence of flooded areas allows the migratory fauna to stop during its long shifting. Frequently is possible to watch swamp hawks, wood sandpiper, storks etc.