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Rio Cannas/Picocca gorge is a territory of steep and hostile granite walls, carved out by water over the centuries and a crystal-clear river flowing among thick oleanders.

After a long journey through the Sarrabus mountains (in south-eastern Sardinia), Rio Cannas flows into Rio Ollastu and both waterways lose their original names, thus becoming Rio Picocca; the latter continues towards the coast.
Rio Picocca is almost dry in summer and fall, but with the arrival of the winter rain, it can swell up and become quite dangerous. Along the course of those waterways, there are several natural monuments, such as “Arco dell’Angelo” (“The angel’s arch”) – a rocky formation at the confluence of the two smaller streams – and many round boulders that rise imposingly along the canyon.

The Mediterranean scrub is the typical vegetation all over this area; nonetheless, several specimens of oleander (Nerium oleander) that have colonized the banks of the streams, appear majestic and wondrously blooming.

Not far from the valley of Rio Cannas/ Picocca, there is the Natural Park of the Sette Fratelli, one of the largest parks in Sardinia, rich in endemic plant species and very interesting fauna.
The mountains are mostly covered by a luxuriant holm oak forest and several cork oaks, hosting a large colony of Corsican deers. There are also eagles, wild cats, martens, wild boars, mouflons, and fallow deers.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)