Riserva regionale Lago piccolo di Monticchio, Regional nature reserve at volcanic crater lakes in Atella, Italy
Riserva regionale Lago piccolo di Monticchio is a protected area in Basilicata, built around two lakes that formed inside the craters of the extinct Monte Vulture volcano. The smaller of the two lakes sits at around 650 meters elevation and is enclosed by dense woodland with marked walking paths running through it.
The area was given protected status in 1984 to safeguard the natural habitats around the two crater lakes. The lakes themselves formed millions of years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the Monte Vulture massif.
The Benedictine monastery of San Michele stands right at the edge of the small lake and can be seen clearly from the water. It houses a Natural History Museum where visitors can look at fossils and minerals connected to the volcanic past of the surrounding land.
The reserve is accessible via the SS 93 road toward Melfi, where parking is available close to the lakes. A small dock near the water allows you to rent a boat, while the woodland paths are easy to follow on foot.
The reserve is home to Brahmaea europaea, a rare moth first recorded in 1963 and the only member of its family found in Europe. This species lives nowhere else on the continent, making this site its sole known home.
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