Rotonda
Welcome to Rotonda, the municipality of the province of Potenza
Hello everyone! Today I will tell you about Rotonda, an Italian municipality in the province of Potenza, which has a population of 3227 and is known for being the seat of the Pollino National Park.
The physical geography of Rotonda
Rotonda is located at the southern end of the province of Potenza, on the border with Calabria, and borders several municipalities in the area. It is located at an altitude of 580 meters above sea level and is part of the Lagonegrese mountain community. The valley in which Rotonda is located belongs to the Mesozoic and Neozoic era. The historic center of the village is built on a limestone rock that was part of an ancient Pleistocene lake.
The rivers of Rotonda
One of the most important rivers in Rotonda is the Mercure, which is 51 km long and crosses the village in the northern part for 2.5 km. The river originates in the municipality of Viggianello and continues its course in Calabria, where it changes its name to Fiume Lao and flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Scalea. In addition to the Mercure, there are other watercourses such as the Lao, Jannace, Paraturo, Mauro, and Schettino.
The climate of Rotonda
Speaking of the climate of Rotonda, I can tell you that it is generally dry and the air is sweet and healthy. In winter, the temperature drops below zero, but does not result in abundant snowfall in the village, although the surrounding mountains are covered in snow throughout the winter. The Libeccio wind causes high precipitation from October to February, while from June to August, there is excellent weather with minimal rainfall. The position of the village in the Mercure valley does not make it subject to perennial moisture and intense scirocco fogs, which instead invade the valley.
The fauna and flora of Rotonda
Although the fauna of Rotonda has decreased due to hunting and deforestation, there are still Erinaceinae, Martes foina, Fox, Squirrel, and Lepus, which populate the area. In addition, Canis lupus and wild boars are present in more extreme areas of the village, which rarely approach inhabited areas. The flora of Rotonda is mainly composed of beech trees, which constitute the largest forest formation in the village, but there are also other plants such as oaks, hornbeams, chestnuts, and cork oaks.
I hope that this brief overview has been useful to get to know the village better. If you have the opportunity, I recommend visiting it to appreciate the beauty of the area and the unspoiled nature of the Pollino National Park.
