Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise
IUCN category II (national park)
Monte Sterpi d'Alto
Location	Abruzzo, Lazio, Molise
Nearest city	Rome
Area	496.80 km2 (191.82 sq mi)
Established	1923
Governing body	Ministero dell'Ambiente
www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.abruzzo/Eindex.html

Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (Italian: Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise) is an Italian national park established in 1923. The majority of the park is located in the Abruzzo region, with smaller parts in Lazio and Molise. It is sometimes called by its former name Abruzzo National Park. The park headquarters are in Pescasseroli in the Province of L'Aquila. The park's area is 496.80 km² (191.82 sq mi).^[1]

It is the oldest park in the Apennine Mountains, and the second oldest in Italy, with an important role in the preservation of species such as the Italian wolf, Abruzzo chamois and Marsican brown bear. Other characteristic fauna of the park are red deer and roe deer, wild boar and the white-backed woodpecker. The protected area is around two thirds beech forest, though many other tree species grow in the area, including silver birch and black and mountain pines.