Bessa Natural Reserve
The Bessa Natural Reserve, established in 1985, is near Biella; it is 7.5 km² wide and it is part of the Baragge Natural Reserve [fr].
Geography and geology
The reserve is north delimited by the remains of a morainic hill of the Early Pleistocene and the Quaternary floods of the Elvo river; it is south delimited by another moraine and by the stream Olobbia.
The Bessa gold field was originated by the erosion and the sedimentation of the rivers and of the Aosta Valley glacier, which also transported the great glacial erratics that can be found in the park.
History
The gold field area, dating back to 2nd-1st century B.C., is made by two fluviale terracing covered with pebbles, sand and gravel, wastes of the mining activity.
On many glacial erratics petroglyphs can be found, especially cup marks. Since 5th-4th century B.C. the area was dominated by the Salassi.
Between 143 and 140 B.C. the area was conquered by the Roman legions commanded by Appius Claudius Pulcher and the mining activity was managed by the publicans.
The historian Strabo says that in the second half of the 1st century B.C. the gold fields were abandoned (or finished) and the Roman gold came from the Iberia and Gaul.
Gallery
- The path called Ciapei Parfundà
- Remains of the constructions
- Spring between the stones called Funta-na dla canala
- The Castelliere di Mongrando old and enigmatic building
See also
References
- ^ Protected Area Profile for Riserva naturale speciale della Bessa Archived 2024-03-05 at the Wayback Machine from the World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 5 March, 2024.
External links
- Official website
- Ecomuseo del Biellese - Museo dell'oro e della Bessa
- v
- t
- e
- Bose Monastic Community
- San Secondo
- Santo Stefano di Sessano
- Sacro Monte di Graglia
- Sordevolo Passion Play
- Sanctuary of Oropa
- Sacro Monte di Oropa
- Sacro Monte di Andorno
- Mazzucco Sanctuary
- Banchette Sanctuary
- Novareia sanctuary
- Cavallero sanctuary
- Moglietti sanctuary
- Nostra Signora della Brughiera
- Santuario della Brugarola
- Sacro Monte di Varallo
- Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Basilica di San Giulio
- Sacro Monte di Orta
- Sacro Monte di Arona
- Sancarlone
- Sacro Monte di Ghiffa
- Sacred Mount Calvary of Domodossola
- Santuario della Madonna della Bocciola
- Santuario della Madonna del Sangue
- Madonna della Gurva sanctuary
- Festa della Santissima Pietà
- Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso
- Madonna del Sasso, Switzerland
- Bolle di Magadino
- Val Grande National Park
- Lagoni di Mercurago Natural Park
- Monte Fenera Natural Park
- Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Natural Park
- Alta Valle Antrona Natural Park
- Fondo Toce Natural Reserve
- Parco Burcina Natural Reserve
- Bessa Natural Reserve
- Sacro Monte di Varallo Natural Reserve
- Oasi Zegna