The Territory of Valle Camonica (BS) Italian group of Friends of Nature

THE TERRITORY

"VALLE CAMONICA"

Valle Camonica takes its name from the Camuni, the ethnic group populating it since remote times. It is located in the north-eastern part of Lombardy, oriented to north-east/south-west, occupies an area of 1347 square km and extends for 80 km in the typical elongated shape of alpine valleys. It includes 46 municipalities, with a population of 114,000 inhabitants. Of these municipalities, four (Lovere, Costavolpino, Rogno and Castro) belong to the province of Bergamo, while the others are part of the province of Brescia. Valle Camonica is practically surrounded by mountains: to the north the Rhaetian Alps with the Ortles-Cevedale chain and the Corno dei Tre Signori (3360 m); to the south the Pre-Alps of the Brescia area; to the east the Adamello Brenta chain; to the west the Alps of the Bergamo area with the Pizzo della Presolana.

From a geological viewpoint its history began in a period between 570 million and 1 billion years ago: the most ancient rocks in fact date back to that era. These are metamorphic rocks with a crystalline base. There are also sedimentary rocks formed in a marine and continental environment and more recent igneous intrusive rocks of the largest batholith in Italy: the Adamello. The lithologic heterogeneity that characterise Valle Camonica makes it unique in its kind and for this reason it is a study site for Italian and foreign geologists.

The quaternary glaciations succeeding each other until 11,000 years ago were fundamental in defining the morphological aspect of the camunian territory. The glacier, upon retreating, conferred on the valley its typical “U” shape, its super-excavating activity brought about morphological leaps, great steps that created the so called “hanging or suspended valleys” with their spectacular high-altitude glacial lakes, such as, for instance, the lake of Aviolo (1930 m), the lake of the Vacca (2357 m), the Baitone lake (2249 m), the Salarno lake (2070 m), but also, at more accessible heights, the lake of Lova (1299 m) and the Moro lake (600 m). Erosion on the mountain and deposit in the valley by the glacier formed the morenic amphitheatres, remains of which can today be observed at Cislano (the pyramids of Zone) and Lozio.

Valcamonica is also extremely varied in terms of climactic and vegetation strata, ranging from the lower valley up to a maximum altitude of 3539 m of the peak of the Adamello. The vegetation, both floral and arboreal, is surprisingly varied throughout the valley, with endemisms of beautiful plants rare to be found in other places, monumental or multi-centenary trees and peat-land vegetation linked to particular microclimates.

Valle Camonica is especially rich in water: the river Oglio that is born of the union of the water from the Frigidolfo and Narcanello streams, at Pontedilegno, flows in its entirety through the valley into the lake of Iseo. This is the fifth Italian river in terms of length; it has many affluent rivers, fed by springs and high-altitude lakes. Since 1900 the water has been exploited for production of electric energy, and before then to move the malls used for iron-works.

Agriculture is not practised on a vast scale: in the wider areas there are orchards of apple-trees, while wine growing is practised only privately. Animal breeding too is aimed at family needs. As a real economic activity we can only mention cattle, goats and sheep, horses and pigs, used to make local cheese and salt-meats. We also mention typical products such as honey, grappa and liqueurs made with local herbs.

Valle Camonica, moreover, is valued for its natural vocation to tourism.

Italia (LOMBARDIA)