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Laghi Lungo and Ripasottile Nature Reserve: birdwatching and water lilies in the Rieti basin
The Laghi Lungo and Ripasottile Nature Reserve lies in the heart of the Rieti basin, spanning six municipalities: Cantalice, Colli sul Velino, Contigliano, Poggio Bustone, Rieti, and Rivodutri. It is a wetland of over 3,000 hectares, fed by the waters of Mount Terminillo.
Two lakes that change with the seasons
The Velino river crosses the basin and feeds both lakes. The scenery shifts from month to month: waterbirds arrive in winter, making it an ideal spot for birdwatching. In spring and summer the surface is blanketed with white water lilies and the less common yellow variety — bright yellow flowers with broad leaves floating on the water surface.
Life around the lakes
The dominant vegetation is common reed beds. Willows, elders, and poplars grow along the banks, while hops, sprouting among the shrubs, are often used in local recipes. The lakes are home to rudd, pike, tench, and eels. In the spring-fed streams you can find brown trout and three-spined sticklebacks. Amphibians include the European tree frog, agile frog, Apennine yellow-bellied toad, smooth newt, and great crested newt. The most common mammals are foxes, hedgehogs, and coypus. Among reptiles, the grass snake is the most frequently seen.
