Serio Park

Introduction

Description

The Serio park is about 45 km long and follows the course of the river from its exit from the Seriana Valley to its confluence with the Adda. In the first section, the waters of the river sink into the subsoil, leaving a white expanse of gravel (the 'gere') on the riverbed. Further downstream, near Mozzanica, the water table re-emerges, flowing in a well-defined, meanclriform riverbed. Along the way it forms wetlands, marshy and stagnant areas, which are the most significant environments in the park due to the wealth of flora and fauna. The river banks are rather degraded, affected by numerous hydraulic works. Vegetation is found mostly at the river side oxbow lakes, where hygrophilous forests of willows and black oman grow. The best examples can be found in the Palata Menasciutto Nature Reserve. A special herbaceous vegetation, the dry meadow vegetation, has established itself on the pebbly river beds. This vegetation is exceptionally rare as it is located in areas subject to erosion or deposition by river floods. Equally rare are flooded meadows, temporary wetlands that form following heavy rainfall and river flooding. They represent a unique environment for the resting and feeding of aquatic birds during migration. There are numerous quarry lakes in the area created by the excavation of sand and gravel. Although artificial, with appropriate environmental restoration work these lakes are transformed over time into respectable wetlands. Around the river, the landscape is completely shaped by agricultural activity with extensive cereal cultivation and poplar groves.

Information

Year of foundation: 1985
Area: 7.750 hectares
Maximum elevation:
Municipalities involved: Bariano, Calcinate, Casale Cremasco-Vidolasco, Castel Gabbiano, Cavernago, Cologno al Serio, Crema, Fara Olivana con Sola, Fornovo San Giovanni, Ghisalba, Grassobbio, Morengo, Martinengo, Madignano, Montodine, Mozzanica, Pianengo, Ricengo, Ripalta Arpina, Ripalta Cremasca, Ripalta Guerina, Romano di Lombardia, Seriate, Sergnano, Urgnano, Pagazzano Zanica
 Institutional site: www.parcodelserio.it
Contacts: info@parcodelserio.it