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This reserve covers about 363 acres on the orographic right of the Chiusella Stream, at the entrance to Chiusella Valley, among the municipalities of Baldissero Canavese, Vidracco and Castellamonte.

Set at the western end of the hills of the morainic amphitheatre of Ivrea, the Pelati Mountains are modest and unusually barren reliefs, with the exception of some pioneering species – namely birches – which have somehow managed to adapt. The landscape is, however, truly evocative in its “lunar” appearance. The very peculiarity is the subsoil, very different from the surrounding area: it is rich in silicates and magnesium, coming from very deep layers of the Earth’s crust; those rocks should have appeared around 60 million years ago, after a large magma spill from the subsoil due to a fracture caused by a thrust of the African continent.

The local minerals are, therefore, quite rare, and were mined for more than two centuries, until the Natural Park was established in 1993. This new project redeveloped the whole area and placed it under thorough protection.

Flora

The particular nature of the soil makes it unsuitable for the growth of arboreal vegetation; the rocks are thus colonized by several types of lichens, while the rest of the territory is mostly covered by sparse bushes, including juniper and butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus), arid grassland and moors. The scarce forest cover consists of birches (Betula pendula), black locusts (Robinia pseuacacia), and downy oaks (Quercus pubescens); the recent reforestation groves feature Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris), Eastern white pines (Pinus strobus), black pines (Pinus nigra), and European larches (Larix decidua).

Close to the Malesina Stream, there are white willows (Salix alba) which make the landscape very different from the bare and stony slopes of the mountain. Among the most interesting and rare flower species, there are Campanula bertolae, Linum suffruticosum, and Fumana procumbens; there is also some more common Sedum alpinum, and Dianthus spp.

Fauna

The Pelati Mountains are a xerothermic oasis: an island where the climate is milder than the surrounding areas and so it favours animal and plant species typical of warmer locations.
Thanks to these peculiar features, there are several uncommon specimens especially among the birds and the insects. The avifauna includes, in fact, 70 species and interesting birds like African stonechats, cirl buntings, rock bunting and Sardinian warblers – the area around Canavese is their only reproductive site in the region. The most barren areas are populated by crested tits, coal tits, lesser whitethroats, and common redstarts. Some birds of prey, such as buzzards, black kites, red kites and short-toed snake eagles occasionally visit the park.

Among the insects, there are some rare species such as the Lepidoptera Pedasia luteella, the Phytoecia vulneris beetle, found only in one other location in Piedmont, and the Leptothorax flavicornis ant predator; at the end of the summer, there are also many European mantises (Mantis religiosa).

Protection of amphibians

For some years, this reserve has been particularly active in stemming the intense death of amphibians that occurs during the breeding season; from mid-February to the beginning of March, in fact, amphibians move en masse from the wintering areas (woods, piles of stones, etc.), towards those of reproduction (the wetlands). Unfortunately, during their migration, they have to cross the roads that often stand between the two different habitats, with dramatic consequences.

The common toad (Bufo bufo), for instance, is particularly at risk because of its slow crawling pace. To stem the phenomenon and reduce the losses of rare and valuable specimens (already threatened by climate changes, parasites, the presence of non-native species, and the reclamation of the wetlands), some special plastic barriers have been installed along the road. The most dangerous toad crossings in Vidracco and Vistrorio, were thus fitted with such vital protection, in order to allow safe passage to those poor amphibians.

Torre Cives

On the highest hill of the Pelati Mountains, at an altitude of 1.906 ft above sea level, there is a tower dating back to the XII century, called “Torre Cives”. It was almost certainly built to observe and defend the territory of Valchiusella. In 1956, during archaeological excavations, five gold coins from the Byzantine era were unearthed – the so-called “Tesoretto” of Torre Cives, now preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Turin.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)