Sardinia Points of Interest and Places to Visit

Italy's Molentargius Natural Park is located on the island of Sardinia between Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena. The park covers an area of approximately 3,954 acres. The site was recognized by the Ramsar Convention in 1977 as an important wetland due to the wealth of bird species that live there, and in 1999, it was established as a national park. For centuries the area was an important salt mining region, and the name of the park refers to the donkeys the miners used to haul salt collected from the basins. The park has several different sections. There are the freshwater basins of Bellarosa Minore and Perdalonga, the salty water basins of Bellarosa Maggiore or Molentargius and Stagno di Quartu, and a flat area with mainly dry features called Is Arenas. Just a few of the birds that can be found here include Slender-billed Gulls, Pink Flamingos, and Kingfishers. It is one of the most important European sites for wintering and breeding for many bird species.