Torbiere di Marcaria nature reserve

The nature reserve of the Marcaria Peat-bog is a small wet area enclosed within a paleo-meander of the river Oglio, i.e. an old river path abandoned by the river and situated not far from the same.

So the reserve extends over a sort of "basin" the boundaries of which are formed by a bank which connects the valley to the nearby raised surfaces (fundamental level of the plain) with a difference in altitude of up to 4-5 meters. In the basin, naturally wet because of the surface water table very close to the level of the fields, since distant times, stretches of cane-thickets and other bog formations developed.

The poor conditions of the ground prevented the decomposition of organic remains which built up and gave the characteristic colour to the ground, dark because it is very rich in organic substances. These deposits extend for a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 6 meters in depth and were used in the past for the extraction of peat, used as fuel. The presence of the small lake basins with regular banks originate from this passed activity. (Oglio South park text)