From Wikipedia "The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park is a natural park in central Italy. Established in 1991, it covers an area of 2,014 square kilometres (778 sq mi), mostly within the provinces of Teramo, L'Aquila, and Pescara in Abruzzo, with small areas in the provinces of Rieti in Lazio and Ascoli Piceno in Marche. The terrain is predominantly mountainous with alpine plains.
It is managed by Ente Parco Nazionale Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, with headquarters in Assergi, L'Aquila.
The Grand Highway of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park runs through the park between the Gran Sasso mountain peak and the chain known as Monti della Laga.
The park contains one of the most biologically diverse areas of Europe. The climate is between that of the Mediterranean and that of the rest of continental Europe. The park contains more than two thousand plant species, some of which are found exclusively in this area, such as the Abruzzo Edelweiss. Many species of wildlife inhabit the park, including rare animals such as the Abruzzo chamois, as well as wolves, Marsican brown bear, roe deer, wildcats, wild boars, foxes and squirrels. Notable birds include the golden eagle, the white-backed woodpecker, the goshawk, the common buzzard and the peregrine falcon. There are also a wide variety of insects, such as the apollo butterfly.
The park contains a very long circuit of approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) featuring trails that can be visited on horseback, by mountain bike, or on foot.
Many outdoor activities are possible within the park including hiking, Horse riding, mountain biking, Canoeing, Bird watching, Alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, and Cross-country skiing.
Educational projects are active in the park visitor centres, and trails and paths can be freely explored alone or with the assistance of mountain guides.
Lago di Campotosto (Lake Campotosto) is an artificial lake in Abruzzo, located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. If you do want to go in the water you can of course swim, hire canoes and try wind-surfing in the summer but motorised boats are not allowed unless you are a local fishermen with a license.
Many old villages are located within the confines the national park. They tend to be quite small, with stone and brick houses and narrow streets. In many cases, the place names highlight the defensive nature of the settlement and a summit position, such as Castel (castle), Rocca, Pizzo (peak), and Colle (hill)." (
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The coordinates are those of Campo Imperatore, a vast plateau of glacial and karst-alluvial origin located at about 1800 m above sea level in the province of L'Aquila. It is located in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. It hosts the Abruzzo Astronomical Observatory and one of the most modern and best-equipped ski areas in central Italy. Campo Imperatore is accessible all year round.