The Aventine River, which runs through the urban settlement of Palena, has its source in the area called 'Capo di Fiume', to understand how it is sourced one should visit the area around the "Quarto di Santa Chiara" during the thawing of the snow. A large placid lake extends over the entire area, fed by the streams that drain the higher plains, from the melted snow and precipitation. Water is gradually fed into a sinkhole, through a system of fractures and faults that the same water joins other streams including La Vera and Cotaio and comes gushing out in Capo di Fiume.
The same area is also home to an important geological site in which the succession of rock strata shows that about seven million years ago, it was occupied by a lagoon enclosed by coral sediments on which, even today, many fossils are found.
The paleobotanical remains confirm the presence of willow, bald cypress, cinnamon trees, pines and deciduous trees. Whereas on the mainland there lived small mammals including Prolagus of which an entire skeleton was found. In the lagoon, there were many fish that lived in the water both permanent and seasonal.
The importance of the entire geological site, has been subjected to a protection order by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. This site complements and enriches in a reciprocal manner the Museum of the High Geopaleontologico Aventine, located within the Duke's Castle in Palena.
The Aventine River, which runs through the urban settlement of Palena, has its source in the area called 'Capo di Fiume', to understand how it is sourced one should visit the area around the "Quarto di Santa Chiara" during the thawing of the snow. A large placid lake extends over the entire area, fed by the streams that drain the higher plains, from the melted snow and precipitation. Water is gradually fed into a sinkhole, through a system of fractures and faults that the same water joins other streams including La Vera and Cotaio and comes gushing out in Capo di Fiume.
The same area is also home to an important geological site in which the succession of rock strata shows that about seven million years ago, it was occupied by a lagoon enclosed by coral sediments on which, even today, many fossils are found.
The paleobotanical remains confirm the presence of willow, bald cypress, cinnamon trees, pines and deciduous trees. Whereas on the mainland there lived small mammals including Prolagus of which an entire skeleton was found. In the lagoon, there were many fish that lived in the water both permanent and seasonal.
The importance of the entire geological site, has been subjected to a protection order by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. This site complements and enriches in a reciprocal manner the Museum of the High Geopaleontologico Aventine, located within the Duke's Castle in Palena.
