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The 963-acre Mont Mars Nature Reserve was established in 1993 and can be found in the Municipality of Fontainemore, between 5.479 and 8.530 ft above sea level.

In the reserve, there are many lakes and wetlands, but also woods, pastures, alpine meadows, and rock basins of glacial morphology, arranged on the very steps of Mount Mars.

The reserve area is crossed by a mule track that leads to the sanctuary of Oropa; on that very path, a centuries-old procession takes place every year.

The local fauna is typical of Valle d’Aosta mountains: alpine hares, chamois, marmots, stoats, and, among the birds, golden eagles, northern wheatears, ptarmigans, common ravens, and alpine choughs.

The reserve offers several educational activities, also in collaboration with schools. They include workshops, excursions, and museum exhibitions. The topics covered range from issues related to environment protection to botany, zoology, geology, pedology, ecology, history, and the wise management of water resources.

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

There are silver firs (Abies alba), green alders (Alnus viridis), yarrow (Achillea macrophylla), and round-leaved saxifrage (Saxifraga rotundifolia).