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The Natural State Reserve was established in 1972 and has an extension of 455 hectares. It is located in a wide valley between the mounts of the Scala municipality, border between Amalfi and Agerola, in the province of Salerno. It is crossed by Torrente Canneto, whose spring is in the Lama dei Gatti locality, which creates spectacular waterfalls inside the valley and crosses the ruins of ancient rail ways and water mills.

FLORA AND FAUNA
The reserve was established to protect the endemic species like the giant ferns of the terciary Woodwardia radicans, which are also the reserve’s symbol, and the salamanders Salamandrina terdigitata. There are also some endangered species like Pteris cretica, Pteris vittata, Erica terminalis and the small, carnivorous plants Pinguicola hirtiflora. A beech tree, holm oak, pine, linden and hornbeam wood is located at the bottom of the valley, while on the higher areas there are vegetal formations typical of the Mediterranean scrub and of the garrigue. Some animals such as occhiali Salamandras, Italian newts, foxes, badgers, slowworms, voles, boars and common hares have found a perfect habitat in the ravines and tunnels.

THE PATHS
There are numerous paths inside the reserve which lead to locations like Valle delle Ferriere. In order to arrive here, people take a walk way which coasts Rio Canneto and starts in San Lazzaro, municipality of Agerola. It is possible to cross Valle dei Mulini, along Canneto river, through woods, springs, small waterfalls and numerous rapids where ancient paper factories produced the famous Amalfi paper, which is still now highly requested. The paper museum is at the beginning of Valle dei Mulini and has been opened for a few years. It treasures the machines and the products of the paper manfacturing. Another option is the path starting in Atrani, which crosses the ancient village passing through the valley of Dragone river.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)