Monte Cornacchia (Daunian Mountains) Explained

Monte Cornacchia
Elevation M:1151
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence M:558
Listing:List of Italian regions by highest point
Location:Apulia, Italy
Range:Daunian Mountains (Southern Apennines)
Coordinates:41.3622°N 15.1564°W
Map:Italy

Monte Cornacchia is a mountain of the Apennine Mountains located in the western internal sector of the province of Foggia. It is the highest peak in the Daunian Mountains and the Apulia region.[2]

Description

Cloaked in woods and pastures, Mount Cornacchia is located on the border between the municipalities of Biccari and Faeto. Along the northern slopes of the hill, the sources of the stream gush out with some hydrocarbon deposits as well as Lake Pescara, the only natural mountain lake in Apulia (located at 902 m, extending over 3 hectares and 6 m deep).[3] The southern side opens into a wide valley, the, crossed by the stream and populated by the only Franco-Provençal minority in Apulia.

From the top of the mountain, reachable via a carriage road, there is a vast landscape including the Gargano, the Tavoliere, the Irpinia, the Matese and the Maiella.[4] A few meters from the summit, there is a refuge built in 1980 and then reactivated in 2012 after a fire devastated it in 2007.[5] By virtue of its considerable ecological importance, the entire massif of Mount Cornacchia, together with the contiguous forest of Faeto, is a site of community interest.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=10210 Peakbagger - Monte Cornacchia, Italy
  2. Web site: Monte Cornacchia, in cima al "Tetto della Puglia". Maria Grazia Frisaldi. 4 October 2011. AmbienteAmbienti. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219182904/http://www.ambienteambienti.com/featured/2011/10/news/monte-cornacchia-in-cima-al-%E2%80%9Ctetto-della-puglia%E2%80%9D-48012.html. 19 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Carta Natura Puglia. Isprambiente. 1 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501224450/http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/pubblicazioni/rapporti/R_204_14_CartaNaturaPuglia.pdf. 1 May 2018.
  4. Web site: Il lago Pescara, il Monte Cornacchia e Bosco Cerasa. Daunia TuR. 17 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818161012/http://www.dauniatur.it/wp/2014/04/18/il-lago-pescara-il-monte-cornacchia-e-bosco-cerasa/. 18 August 2016.
  5. Web site: Appennino, riaperto il rifugio del Monte Cornacchia. Montagna. 1 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501224448/https://www.montagna.tv/cms/43928/appennino-riaperto-il-rifugio-del-monte-cornacchia/. 1 May 2018.
  6. Web site: [ftp://ftp.minambiente.it/PNM/Natura2000/Materiale%20Designazione%20ZSC/Puglia/04_Misure%20di%20Conservazione/IT9110003/2_Regolamento.pdf PIANO DI GESTIONE del Sito di Importanza Comunitaria "MONTE CORNACCHIA - BOSCO FAETO" (IT9110003)]. Comunità montana dei Monti Dauni Meridionali.