The national park was born in 1923.Later, on July 12 of the same year, that decree was made law. Its present-day area of 44,000 hectares, which is the result ofseveral enlargements, inclues 22 tows in the provinces of L’Aquila, Frosinone and Isernia.Shaped by numerous valleys and three mountain massifs with heights exceeding 2000 metres (Monte Petroso 2249mts, Monte Marsicano 2245 mts, Monte Greco 2285 mts, and Monte Meta 2242 mts).

The territory of the park is evidently characterized by past phenomena of glaciation and Karsification. The Sangro river, with its high-level course, flows though the entire protected area where it also has its source. The Melfa, Giovenco, and the Volturno are other rivers that flow in the park. In the park or close by we can find several natural lakes such as: Lake Vivo, Lake Pantaniello, and Lake of Scanno, not forgetting the artificial of Barrea and the Montagna Spaccata.

In 1980 the Autonomous Board "National Park of Abruzzo", in charge of the Park administration, has started a zonation project, which consists in dividing the whole territory in zones. At present, the Park is divided into 4 zones: Full Reserve, General Reserve, Protection Zone and Development Zone.
The Park is inhabited by bears, chamois wolves deer and roe-deer.
The symbol of the park is the Marsican brown bear, which represented, until recently, an endangered species. At present this danger seems to have been averted, thanks to the punctual protection activity of the Park Board.
In fact there are about 80 examples of bear living both in the Park area and in the nearby mountains.
The Bored of the National park of Abruzzo has also taken several initiatives about other areas. An example of this activity is represented by the Operation Chamois that has favoured the reappearance of this herbivore on the Majella and Big Stone.
There are about 40 wolves living in the Park. The Operation San Francesco (started with the WWF 20 years ago) has made possible the setting up of a Tour Information Centre and a special faunal area.
In addiction to the ones already mentioned, the mammalian species living in this protected area about 40, amongst which there are the wild cat , the marten, the otter, the badger, the polecat, the wild boar, the squirrel and the edible dormouse.
The ornithological species present in the Park are about 300.
Among the birds of prey we find the golden eagle, the peregrine hawk and the goshawk.
There are about 30 different species of amphibians and reptiles such as the Orsini viper, the spotted salamander, and spectacled salamander.
In the valleys, furrowed by rivers, we can admire a lush riparian vegetation with poplars, willows and alders.
In the spring and summer the Park is covered in colour with the flowering of the gentians, gentianellas, violets, peonies, columbines and irises.The pride of the Park is the Venus’s little shoe or Our lady’s slipper, the biggest, wild Italian orchid.


INFORMATION:
Direzione del Parco (visit center), Pescasseroli – 0863/910715
Azienda di Soggiorno, Scanno – 0864/74317