Gole del Raganello, Nature reserve in Province of Cosenza, Italy.
The Gole del Raganello is a 17 km canyon in the Pollino National Park, running from the Sorgente della Lamia to the Ponte del Diavolo near Civita. It is divided into the Gole alte, about 9 km between the Timpa di Porace-Cassano and the Timpa di San Lorenzo (1652 m), and the Gole basse, about 8 km from Pietraponte. The gorge cuts through pale grey and beige limestone, with smooth, water-worn walls and a channel of still, greenish water at the base.
The reserve was established in 1987 across 1,600 hectares inside the Pollino National Park, in the municipality of San Lorenzo Bellizzi. Its history is marked by the flood of 20 August 2018, when a violent storm upstream near San Lorenzo Bellizzi sent a sudden surge through the lower gorges at Civita: 10 hikers died, 11 were injured and 23 were rescued.
The canyon is split into the Gole alte, or Gole di Barile, running about 9 km from the Sorgente della Lamia to the Scala di Barile near San Lorenzo Bellizzi, and the Gole basse, about 8 km from Pietraponte to below the Ponte del Diavolo near Civita. Along the lower route, canyoning groups pass named features such as the Conca degli Oleandri and the Forra d'Ilice.
The canyon is split into the Gole alte, about 9 km from the Sorgente della Lamia to the Scala di Barile near San Lorenzo Bellizzi, and the Gole basse, about 8 km from Pietraponte to below the Ponte del Diavolo near Civita. The lower route is harder, with more water and steeper, rougher passages. Visits are allowed only with a guide, after the 2018 flood.
The reserve was established in 1987 and covers 1,600 hectares inside Pollino National Park. Its two sections differ: the upper gorge runs about 9 km from the Lamia spring to the Scala di Barile, while the lower gorge covers roughly 8 km from Pietraponte to below the Ponte del Diavolo near Civita.
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