This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)

The Natural Park of Lake Candia is in the lower Canavese area (province of Turin), and is surrounded by the morainic hills with the ancient villages of Candia Canavese, Vische and Mazzè. This park represents one of the most precious wetlands in Piedmont and, probably, also in Italy, thanks to its almost pristine condition the recent implementation of eco-friendly tourism facilities, which have contributed to its preservation.

Established in 1995 by the Province of Turin, it is, in fact, acknowledged as a Site of Community Interest (SIC) in “Natura 2000” network, as well as a ZPS (Special Protection Area). Its 828 acres include Lake Candia, the marshland, and the “Paludetta” (“Small Swamp”), where a rich flora and some rare hydrophilic varieties thrive undisturbed.

The avifauna is particularly abundant: the lake is, in fact, a perfect resting place for wintering and migrating birds, being on the south-western stretch of important migratory routes.

Flora and fauna

The flora is represented by 425 species, half of which is closely linked to the lake and marsh environments. There are water-lilies (Nymphaea alba), yellow water-lilies (Nuphar luteum), fringed water-lilies (Nymphoides peltata), and water chestnuts (Trapa natans), which, for some years, have been thoroughly monitored to reduce their expansion.
Then, there are tussock sedge (Carex elata), yellow irises (Iris pseudacorus) around the “Paludetta”, as well as rare species such as bogbeans (Menyanthes trifoliata), greater bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris), marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), and water violets (Hottonia palustris).

The two ringing stations for birds, one of which has been active since 1998, have made it possible to study the local population related to water and reeds: among the species of high naturalistic value, quite rare in the regional and national territory, there are great egrets (Egretta alba), red herons (Ardea purpurea), Eurasian bitterns (Botaurus stellaris), little bitterns (Ixobrychus minutus), tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula), common pochards (Aythya ferina), Northern pintails (Anas acuta), gadwalls (Anas strepera), Northern shovelers (Anas clipeata), marsh warblers (Acrocephalus palustris), and common reed buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus).

Occasional species have also been reported, such as great white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus), white-headed ducks (Oxyura leucocephala), common scoters (Melanitta nigra), merlins (Falco columbarius), black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa), bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica), and wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola).

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)