The Po tract flowing on the side of Piacenza measures 100 km on a total of 678 km. More precisely, those 100 touch Piacenza on the right bank of this great river, which stretches from open plain to curve several times from Castel San Giovanni to Castelvetro. Po’s natural and environmental resources are numerous and fascinating, characterising the landscape with cane and willow thickets, misty woods, yellow water lilies and water chestnuts. Rich in fish varieties, it is also characterised by numerous species of birds and animals: for fish there is the bleak, most diffused in the area, tench, common carp, rudd, catfish, European perch and pike; for birds you might find the Night heron, little egret, Grey heron, nightingale, common moorhen, Great Reed Warbler. Again, the coot, mallard, little tern and the common Kingfisher. A real macrocosm extremely varied, forming an interesting ecosystem of a unique heritage that we will be able to preserve only by paying respect to the great Po river, a geographical borderline diversifying cultures and a common point of reference for the life of people in the Padana Valley.
The flood plain in the territory of Villanova sull’Arda hosts Isola Giarola natural park with its reservoir created during a period of mining activity (now over) on the spot. Since then, the environment has been cleaned up and flora and fauna typical of river areas now proliferate along the banks. The reservoir is located on the right bank of Po river in the flood plain surrounded by Arda, Ongina and Cavo Fontana streams.
