canyon exploring with Michele Angileri

Fosso di Selva Grande - tratto inferiore

In the lower part of Selva Grande Valley we find the most famous and frequented canyoning route of Laga Mounts. It was the firts canyon to be explored on Laga Mounts, the only having real narrows (the other canyons on Laga feature cascades in an open environment). The environment is majestic and charming (though a bit dangerous).

I remember ...

All the water of streams in western Laga is taken at elevation 1350 m and sent to artificial lake of Campotosto, for hydroelectric purpose. Dowstream the takings the streams are always dry, unless there are springs or minor tributaries bringing water.
Unfortunately lower Selva Grande canyon starts below the water taking, so it is permanently dry in its first half. In spring its second half receives a good flow from Fosso di Ciufficolle (not taken), but in summer Ciufficolle becomes dry too.

So for the production of electricity has gone lost what would have been a beautiful summer canyoning route, one of the few in Lazio having flow in summer. Perhaps the two things could be reconciled: if the takings had remote controlled shutters water may be allowed to flow through the canyon in spring, when Campotosto lake is at its maximum level and all the water received is thrown away through the dam. Even in summer the water taking might be stopped in some days or for a few hours a day, allowing water to follow its natural path. Doing so would balance the energetic and economic needs to those of environment preservation and tourism (which brings money too). Don't forget that Laga Mounts are a National Park, and so the needs of environment protection and tourism should be considered at least equal to those of energy production.

Photographs in this website show ultralight ropes (6 mm ropes made of high tenacity fibers). Read multimedia book Ultralight ropes canyoning technique to learn how to use them.

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