The Park territory extends over a wide area situated close by the watershed ridge of Tuscany and Emilia, at the border between Bologna and Reggio, and the massif of Mt. Cimone. It covers a surface area of about 15,000 hectares, 9,000 of which belong to the Park (all situated over the 1,000 meters of altitude) and 6,000 belong to the pre-Park area. The landscape is characterized by wide slopes covered with woodlands, heathlands, and mountain grasslands alternating with steep slopes, lakes of glacial origin, and peat bogs.