Faunistic Oasis of Macugnaga

The wildlife oasis was established in 1969 and represents the first protected area of the Province.
It was established, also thanks to associations, to favor the reintroduction of the Alpine ibex, now almost disappeared in the Alps.
The specimens that have been released over several years come from Valsavaranche, in the Park of Gran Paradiso, where one of the last colonies of the Alps lived.
As they found good environmental conditions, the Alpine ibexes breeded and then colonized the upper Anzasca Valley and the Antrona Valley. About 120 specimens live in the area of Macugnaga now.
The Alpine ibex is usually related to high altitude environments (2100 - 3300 mt.).
In winter, it prefers very steep slopes, which are well exposed to the sun and where the snow melts quickly.
It is an herbivore and has the ability to use very poor forage, mainly grasses; while in the winter season it feeds on juniper and small bushes.
In 1816, the Alpine ibex was reduced to a number of less than 100 specimens, which lived in the Gran Paradiso Massif.
It did not go extinct because of the establishment of the Royal Reserve in 1836 and the National Park in 1922.
Since it has been redistributed over the Alps, today the Alpine ibex have colonized a good part of the Alpine arc, with a population of 21.000 samples.
The wildlife oasis of Macugnaga is located in the upper Anzasca Valley, where the sides of the valley get steeper and higher to meet the Monte Rosa. Here the Monte Rosa commands with all its impotence: the East side of the mountains is 2500 meter higher than the Pedriola alp, where the Rifugio Zamboni can be found.
The circular itinerary needs a whole day to be completed and crosses the whole sanctuary; in the best season (late spring and autumn), it is possible to see the chamois and the alpine ibex on the lower cliffs, before they move up to the higher ones in summer.
Another interesting thing to do is to cross the moraines of the Belvedere glacier (there is no danger and no need for gear if one sticks to the trail) and to observe the flowers in this pre-glacial space.
People who reach the Lago delle Locce can observe an interesting geological phenomenon: the lake formed within the moraine of the glacier and a side of it is delimited by ice.
The hike can be made easier by going up with the Belvedere chairlift; it can also be divided in two days, up-hill once can use the chairlift and downhill it is possible to follow one of the trails.