Tipologia
Landscape
The river. Geomorphology, anthropic interventions, water management
River Mincio, an emissary of lake Garda, is approximately 73 km long; it flows out of the lake approximately at Peschiera del Garda (Verona), and a few kilometres later it enters the Mantua province at Ponti sul Mincio, while it becomes a tributary of river Po at Sacchetta di Sustinente.
The current course of the Mincio features a number of anthropic interventions that, over the centuries, served the purpose of regulating the river flow and apply it to human needs; nevertheless, for short stretches the rives still retains remarkably natural landscapes.
North of Mantua, between Rivalta and Curtatone, the river forms the large wetlands called Valli del Mincio and further along, at Mantua, it forms three lakes, one of which – the Upper lake – is constantly kept 3 meters higher than the other southern basins (Middle and Lower lakes) that flow past the Gonzaga-esque profile of the city. Along the lower course of the Mincio, the Governolo navigation locks regulate the convergence of the Mincio with the Po.
Natural reserves
The park is comprised of a mainly plain area, though it features interesting higher-rises bearing testimony to its origins, traditional of “plain valleys" formed over the years by the emissaries of great alpine lakes and left-side tributaries to the Po. Some parts of the most outstanding ecosystems) moraine hills and river terraces by the upper, middle and lower course of the river) are protected as part of the natural reserves.
The reserves managed by the Parco del Mincio authority are three, with the addition of the Bosco Fontana state natural reserve.
The "Castellaro Lagusello" regional reserve is located at the heart of the moraine amphitheatre, while the gravel terrace of Marmirolo houses the "Bosco Fontana" state reserve. At the gravel/sand wet bottom of the valley, north-west of Mantua, is where the regional "Valli del Mincio" reserve is, while the clay/lime wet bottom of the valley, south-east of Mantua, is where the regional "Vallazza" reserve is.
Further info and details:
Parco del Mincio - Piazza Porta Giulia, 10 - 46100 Mantua (MN) Tel. 0376/22831 www.parcodelmincio.it