Il patrimonio geo-ambientale della Val Manubiola (Prov. di Parma)

The Manubiola Valley underwent a radical transformation in the late Sixties with the construction of the A15 motorway. Despite the significant alterations to the landscape involving a segment of the central sector of the valley, the decision to carry out a geo-environmental study was taken because the valley nevertheless preserves some interesting natural features. This study examines the geological and geomorphological features of the whole valley and proposes a subdivision into areas in which three different kinds of landscape can be identified: an ophiolitic rocks landscape, a Ligurian sandstones landscape and a debris mantles landscape. The study provides a descriptive analysis of various itineraries through different types of geological landscape: these itineraries make it possible to identify and assess the geological peculiarities of the different areas, as well as their historical and cultural characteristics. Each itinerary has been assigned a specific value that characterises it. Moreover, along each itinerary, value is given to those sites which are considered to be more suitable for geo-tourism and didactic-scientific purposes. Itinerary 1 has a geomorphological value in connection with the morphologies produced by landslides; along this itinerary, sites that could be useful from a didactic-scientific point of view and sites that are better suited to geo-tourism have been identified. Itinerary 2 has a geological value based on the presence of outcrops of very significant Ligurian Units and is suitable for didactic-scientific purposes; it has a historical-cultural value that is suitable for geo-tourism. Itinerary 3 has a historical-cultural value justified by the evidence of ancient human activities in the valley: some of the sites are suitable for geo-tourism. Itinerary 4 has a geomorphological value as it highlights phenomena due to gravity on the slopes as well as phenomena due to selected erosion; the unusual features of some morphologies make the itinerary suitable for didactic-scientific purposes, too. Itinerary 5 has a geological value because of the exposure of ophiolite units of the External Ligurian Domain and a historical-cultural value because of the signs of ancient mining activities. The sites can serve both didactic-scientific and geo-touristic purposes. Itinerary 6 has a geological value because of the excellent exposure of ophiolite Ligurian Complexes and may also lend itself to didactic-scientific objectives as it serves as a clear illustration of the relationships between a Cretaceous sedimentary chaotic unit and large ophiolitic bodies and provides a good example of structures and mineral deposits related to Jurassic “oceanic metamorphism”.