Bolle di Magadino, Nature reserve at Lake Maggiore confluence, Switzerland.
Bolle di Magadino is a nature reserve in southern Switzerland where the Ticino and Verzasca rivers meet Lake Maggiore. The area spans roughly 660 hectares and consists of extensive reed beds, alluvial forests, and shallow water zones.
The site began changing in 1888 when the Ticino River course was altered, followed by bank construction in 1908 and land reclamation in 1918. These interventions gradually shaped the landscape into the mosaic of water and vegetation visible today.
The reserve functions as a research center for the European-African Songbird Migration Network, providing data about bird migration patterns across continents.
The reserve can be reached from Magadino by boat in about 20 minutes or from Gordola, which is 10 minutes by train from Locarno. Access points are clearly marked and offer good viewing spots for wildlife observation.
The reserve hosts more than 50 threatened plant species and over 150 endangered animal species within its boundaries. This high concentration of rare species makes it one of the most important conservation areas in the region.
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