Island of Panarea Nature Reserve
The Island of Panarea and Scogli Viciniori Nature Reserve encloses the territory of Panarea and the archipelago of the Vicinori islets. Panarea is the oldest island of the Aeolian archipelago and the one existing today is what remains of a much larger island which, following a volcanic eruption, has largely sunk, forming the current island of Panarea and the series of neighboring islets, which are still united in the sea: Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Bottaro, Lisca bianca, Lisca nera, Panarelli and Formiche. The uncontaminated nature of these places has led the regional councilor to establish the Island of Panarea integral nature reserve and nearby rocks.
The reserve protects an absolutely unique environment: secondary volcanism phenomena are still present with water sources that even reach 50 ° C that form geysers of warm water in the sea. Phenomenon that influences the flora and fauna of the reserve.
Among the species present in the reserve, of particular interest are: the Podarcis sicula trischittai, one of the 4 subspecies of the endemic Podarcis lizard present in the islet of Bottaro, another subspecies is present in the islet di Lisca Bianca.
Among the flora we must mention a plant existing only on the islet of Lisca Bianca, the Anthemis aeolica, commonly called Chamomile of the Aeolian Islands.
