The Gorges are a Raganello Biogenetic Nature Reserve, which falls within the National Park of Pollino. (Region: Calabria Province: Cosenza). The Raganello interested in a deeply incised river valley, with sheer cliffs from 100 to 700 m high, rough grazing dominate the top. The vegetation on the imposing rock formations consists loricato pine larch pine, associated with different shrubs. Together with friends we begin this adventure travel to immerse ourselves completely in a nearly pristine nature. The journey starts from the valley of
San Lorenzo Bellizzi to finish at the foot of
Civita, an ethnic-Albanian village at the foot of the Pollino. You need to go about 10 km encountering huge boulders, waterfalls, natural pools, and rare flowers and plants that have adapted to the particular microclimate.
The route presents considerable difficulties and are strongly advised to deal with a guide and with the right equipment (rope, helmet and shoes canyons in the colder it is appropriate to wear a suit) being very careful about what might fall from above. In fact, it happens that they drop stones grazing animals and often fall into the river a few goats. Towards the end of the trip we encountered two unexpected: a rock wall that has blocked the path, so you had to use ropes and a few tourists who have lent our support because they ventured too, found themselves in difficulty.
Fortunately everything went well and the exit from the gorge unwary tourists have given us to thank us for the watermelon.