Unique. Would you ever expect to find a peat bog in the mountains? The Paluaccio Reserve is not only one of a handful that can be found in the Alps, but in the whole of Italy. Book your visit now, entry is free.
The Paluaccio at Oga is a peat bog, also known as a wetland. It formed around 13,000 years ago, probably when the glaciers still occupied these valleys, favoured by the optimal climate and conditions for its development.
Despite the fact that today it is far from its primitive natural state (in some areas the peat has been extensively disturbed) the Paluaccio bog is still an area of particular naturalistic, especially botanic and vegetational, interest. Bogs are in fact rich biodiverse environments which have now almost completely disappeared. There are just a few remaining around the world, including Italy, and for this reason its conservation is one of the responsibilities of the Stelvio National Park.
The Paluaccio Reserve was founded in 1983, with the intention of preserving these delicate environments of national heritage, and to conserve them for current and future generations.
Unique environment, unique species
Soil and climate are decisive factors for the development of the typical vegetation responsible for the creation and survival of a peat bog. Within the Paulaccio bog there are a multitude of different environments just metres from each other, including low and intermediate bogs, peat meadows, nardus grasslands and woodland.
That’s without counting the numerous species of insects typical of wetland areas, like dragonflies.
In this bog of over 30 hectares we also find botanical species typical of the cold postglacial phases that are extremely rare south of the Alps like Vaccinium microcarpus, Andromeda polifolia and Empetrum nigrum.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Reserve is the presence of the carnivorous plant Drosera rotundifolia, its establishment favoured by the low nutrient content of the soil.
The most visibly striking features are however the domes created by the mounds of sphagnum (peat moss), a genus of moss that grows continuously.
A peat bog in an advanced state
The Paluaccio is today in an extremely advanced evolutionary state. Unfortunately the optimal conditions that keep it active have been slightly altered by peat excavations, used as fuel for the Bormio furnace from 1920 to 1930.
What do you say, is it worth a visit?
