The Scandola Nature Reserve is located on the west coast of the French island of Corsica, within the Corsica Regional Park. The reserve was established in 1975. The park and reserve has been recognized by the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

as a Natural

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

since 1983 because of its beauty, rich biodiversity, and maquis shrubland.

Location

The Scandola Reserve is situated on the west coast of Corsica between Punta Muchillina and Punta Nera and includes Cape Girolata and Cape Porto. The reserve covers an area of of which is land and is sea.

Physical features

The reserve has two sectors, the Elpa Nera inlet and the peninsula of Scandola. The jagged and sheer cliffs contain many grottos and are flanked by numerous stacks and almost inaccessible islets and coves, such as Tuara. The coastline is also noted for its red cliffs, sand beaches, and headlands. The reserve has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

, with hot, dry summers. The average yearly maximum temperature is 28 degrees C, whereas the average minimum temperature is 3 degrees C.

Biodiversity

The coastal area around the Scandola Nature Reserve have open cliff-top grass swards and tall maquis shrubland, although it has been degraded by historical fires and agriculture. Many species of lizards, snakes, birds, and geckos have been recorded within the park.

Precious coral Precious coral, or red coral, is the common name given to a genus of marine corals, ''Corallium''. The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red or pink-orange skeleton, which is used for m ...

lives in the

littoral The littoral zone or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely inundated), to coastal a ...

zone directly off of the coast, and the strong currents in the Gulf of Porto allow for large numbers of fish to congregate. There was once a population of endangered

Mediterranean monk seal The Mediterranean monk seal (''Monachus monachus'') is a monk seal belonging to the family Phocidae. , it is estimated that fewer than 700 individuals survive in three or four isolated subpopulations in the Mediterranean, (especially) in the Ae ...

s of the coast of the nature reserve, but they have since disappeared.

Protection

In 1930, a law was passed prohibiting destruction or modification within Corsica Regional Park. Scandola Nature Reserve is strictly protected in order to return the area to its natural state.

Gallery

File:0 Scandola Osani JPG1.jpg, Gargalo island and Palazzu block. File:0 Scandola Osani JPG2.jpg, Red Rhyolite. File:0 Scandola Osani JPG3.jpg, Columnars jointed basalt. File:0 Scandola Osani JPG4.jpg, Red Rhyolite cliffs. File:Rhyolite-rock-arch-scandola-nature-reserve.jpg, Rhyolite arch.

References

* Bacar, H. "A survey of Existing and Potential Marine Parks and Reserves of the Mediterranean Region." 1977. IUCN/UNEP. * Gryn-Ambroes, P. Preliminary Annotated Lists of Existing and Potential Mediterranean Protected Areas. 1980. UNEP/IUCN.

External links

*
UNESCO World Heritage Site profile
* UNEP-WCMC World Heritage Site datashee

* Pictures and description on https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231030/http://www.wikisailing.com/Ilot_Palazzu {{World Heritage Sites in France World Heritage Sites in France Geography of Corsica Tourist attractions in Corsica