National Park Arcipelago Toscano
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Man and the Natural Environment
The National Park Arcipelago Toscano came about in order to protect the natural environment, which is both fragile and rich in cultural and scientific value.
The geological history of the Archipelago is ancient, and it has influenced the shape and landscape of each Island, enhancing them with rare lithological and mineralogical peculiarities.
Climatic and geological events have led to the existence of rare or endemic animal and vegetable species, which are present either only in the National Park, or in few other areas. The Park's territory has provided important areas of refuge for both flora and fauna as well as forming a connection between the Sardinian-Corsican system and the Italian peninsula.
The Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago form one of the most important passages for fauna in the whole Mediterranean basin and a resting and nesting place for a great many birds migrating between continental Europe and Africa. Some of the most important colonies of shearwaters and seagulls, amongst which is the extremely rare Corsican seagull "Larus audouinii", find one of the last habitats
for reproduction in the Park.
The ancient presence of man and the progressive development of his activities have contributed to modify the appearance of the indigenous vegetation. The Mediterranean scrub called macchia, which is now the typical vegetation of today's Tuscan Archipelago, grows extensively where once vast holm-oak ("Quercus ilex") forests grew.
The geographical isolation, the difficulties with connection between the Islands and the continent and the complex events linked to the historical settlements of the Archipelago, have all favoured the preservation of landscape, ecosystems, and man´s cultural approach to the natural environment which elsewhere is no longer possible.
Edited by: Dr.ssa B. Colombini - V. N. Martino
At Elba Island, there is tourist accommodation available in hotels, farm holiday, farmhouse, residence self-catering accommodation, b&b, rooms for rent, holiday homes, camp sites and tourist villages.
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Elba Island
