Wonderful dirt roads inside the Caldera di Latera
It is an elliptical depression, whose major axis is almost nine kilometers long and whose edges rise on average up to almost 200 m above the level of the flat bottom. Originated as a result of repeated volcanic eruptions which occurred about 200 thousand years ago, it was later occupied by the waters of a lake. The polecats, which give the name to this locality, are residual manifestations of volcanic activity consisting of emissions of gases and vapors containing hydrogen sulphide.
The caldera is a Portuguese word that has entered the world volcanological terminology. Following extremely violent eruptions, during which enormous quantities of pyroclastic materials are erupted, the volcanic apparatus already partially demolished undergoes a sinking. The depression that forms is mostly circular and is called caldera. That of Latera has several easily recognizable craters, with four concentric walls attesting to four different eruptive phases.
That of the caldera is not only a landscape and geological value. The singular characteristics of its environments and the local biodiversity have earned it the recognition of the inclusion in the Lazio lists of both the Sic (sites of community importance) and the SPAs (special protection areas). In particular, the avifauna is the most interesting component of the local animal population. Among the reported species stand out birds of prey characteristic of open environments such as the harrier, the black kite and the lodolaio. More discreet, but no less important, are the presence of various passerines habitual frequenters of the steppe areas such as the calender, the gardener, the quail. Among the reptiles, the common tortoise is reported. (Parchilazio.it)