A Wetland of Great Naturalistic Value
The Park is a wetland covering a territory of about 1,600 hectares, delimited by the urban expansion of the Municipalities of Cagliari, Quartu S. Elena, Selargius, Quartucciu and by Poetto coastal area. It was established in 1999 with the aim to safeguard and enhance a site of international interest which was already recognized in 1977 by the Ramsar Convention as an important place for the stop, wintering, and nesting of several species of aquatic birds. The exceptional nature of the site is given by the presence of both freshwater and salty water basins separated by a flat area with mainly dry features, called Is Arenas. The freshwater areas include the ponds of Bellarosa Minore and Perdalonga, born as meteoric waters expansion basins. The salty water areas include the stretches of water of the former system of Cagliari Salt Pans, and in particular Bellarosa Maggiore or Molentargius (first evaporation pan), Stagno di Quartu (2nd and 3rd evaporation pans), the other salt pans (Cagliari salt pans), and Perda Bianca (former bittern collecting area).
