Riserva naturale orientata Serre della Pizzuta, Regional nature reserve in Piana degli Albanesi, Italy.
The Riserva naturale orientata Serre della Pizzuta is a protected nature reserve spanning around 414 hectares of mountainous terrain with limestone formations. The site features two main caves with extensive karst cave systems and reaches approximately 1,333 meters at its highest point.
The reserve was established in 1998 as a protected nature area and contains geological formations that are approximately 250 million years old. Significant fossil discoveries at Monte Kumeta reveal the deep geological history of this location.
The territory includes ancient ice houses on the western slope that local communities once used to preserve ice through the year. These structures show how people adapted to the mountain environment and its natural advantages.
The terrain is mountainous and requires good footwear and physical readiness for extended walks. Spring and autumn offer the best visiting conditions, with mild temperatures and drier paths throughout the reserve.
The site protects the Viola ucriana, a rare flowering plant found nowhere else in the world. This species grows only at elevations between 800 and 1,300 meters within this reserve.
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