Alcantara River Nature Reserve (ITA030036)
Site type: SAC Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA030036- Hectares: 980
This area includes a large part of the Alcantara river basin which crosses geologically rather varied substrates represented by basaltic lava beds, metamorphites, calcarenites and sandstones. In the basaltic sections it forms following a deep erosion of the spectacular gorges. It develops at altitudes between the level of the sea and about 600 m in an area affected by a bioclimate between the lower thermo-mediteranean and the mesomediterranean with a sub-humid ombrotype superior. The vegetation is represented above all in the most encased sections by ripisilve to Platanus orientalis and Salix gussonei, while in the wider sections it is there are thickets of various species of Salix and formations of Nerium oleander. The stretches with pebbled river-like beds are colonized by bushes in Helichrysums italicum, while along the submerged banks there are frequent hygrophilous formations with helophytes or semi-submerged hydrophytes. On the rocky slopes there are frequent strips i scrub with Euphorbia dendroides or woods with Quercus virgiliana or more rarely with Quercus ilex.
It is a site of considerable landscape and naturalistic importance due to the presence of deep gorges crossed by the often turbulent waters constituting rapids or small waterfalls. Significant are also the ripisilva with plane trees, with some large trees that often cover long stretches of the river banks. Yes Furthermore, various entities are found which in the regional area are rare or considered to be of significant phytogeographic interest, in turn mentioned in the list in the section 3.3 (D). The site hosts an interesting herpetofauna, which includes a large portion of Sicilian species, some of which deserve careful and targeted safeguard measures. The invertebrate fauna is very rich and articulated, especially as regards the freshwater and riparian species. There are numerous Sicilian and sometimes Nebrodensi endemics and / or rare species and stenotopes.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
