Valli mirandolesi, Protected wetland near Mirandola, Italy.
Valli mirandolesi is a protected natural area in the flat plain of Modena Province, featuring wetlands, lakes, brushy meadows, and trees on farmland. The space includes different habitats marked by open water areas, dense vegetation, and more open field zones.
The area served as a center for fish farming and horse breeding until the end of the 19th century, with early settlement traces from Etruscan times. The Barchessoni structures were built in the late 19th century as horse quarters and have shaped the landscape since then.
The name refers to the marshy plains around Mirandola, which have served as both home and livelihood for local communities for centuries. Today, visitors and birdwatchers use this landscape to observe water birds and rare species in their natural surroundings.
The best way to learn about the area is to visit the environmental education center at Barchessone Vecchio in San Martino Spino, where information about ecology is available. The center offers a good starting point for exploring the habitats and watching birds in the surroundings.
The area is home to Italy's largest population of Black Tern and serves as a critical rest stop for migratory water birds in the region. These birds pass through twice yearly on their long journeys between northern and southern Europe.
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