The Hydrography and Touristic Activity of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio And Molise (Italy)

National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise (NPALM) is situated in central Italy, in the South-Central Apennines, also called the Appennini Abruzzesi. Its surface measures 50,683 ha and it also includes a surface of 75,683.6 ha of External Protection areas. NPALM is included in the administrative territory of three regions: a 75.2 % surface in Abruzzo, 16.7 % in Lazio and 8.1 % in Molise, thus its denomination. The main rivers which cross the NPALM are: Sangro, Melfa, Giovenco and Volturno. Of these, Sangro is the main river which drains the territory of the NPALM while the others flow on limited surfaces of the Park. Vivo Lake, of karstic and glacial origins is the only natural lake found in the internal protection area of the NPALM. However, the external protection area includes the largest natural lake of the Apennines: Scanno Lake. Pantaniello Lake is also a natural lake included in the external protection area and has been declared State Natural Reserve in 1972. Of the 5 artificial lakes that have been built for hydroelectric purposes, Barrea Lake is the most representative; situated on the river Sangro, it is well integrated in the landscape of the region. According to the Ramsar Convention, Barrea Lake was declared a sensitive humid-area in 1972. The hydrographic potential is influenced by the morphometric and morphologic particularities of valleys (lengths, width, slope, thresholds, passes, defiles, waterfalls etc), by the specific biota of watercourses, by the qualitative, quantitative and dynamic characteristics of watercourses. The main type of tourism encountered in this region is ecotourism (hiking, bird and animal watching), cycling and mountain biking along valleys’ courses and alongside lakes; however, other types of touristic activities are practiced, based on recreational navigation (canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing) and on sport fishing. Swimming and birdwatching are practiced during summer.