Lake Porta is a freshwater coastal wetland that has survived reclamation which have progressively reduced the marshes characterizing the coast in historical times Tuscany. In 1998 it was included in the Regional System of Protected Areas as (L.R. 49/95) as a Protected Natural Area of Local Interest, in 2003 it was recognized as an area of European naturalistic interest (SPA pursuant to Directive 79/409/CCE), due to the presence of the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), a rare heron throughout Europe. The area humid, maintained by embankments, it is largely covered by marsh reeds (Phragmites australis) and the free water surfaces (the "clear") are small dimensions. A recently formed forest develops around the reed thicket similar to the humid environments of historical Versilia, made up of typical tree species of the marshy areas: black alder (Alnus glutinosa), various species of willows (Salix sp.pl.) and of poplars (Populus sp.pl.). In small areas there are still characterized humid meadows by the presence of sedges (Carex sp.pl., Cyperus sp.pl.) and rushes (Juncus sp.pl.). In A very rare and endangered butterfly, the Lycaena dispar, lives in these environments (flying from May to June and from mid-August to the end of September. Thanks to the variety of environments that are found there, over the course of the year approximately one can be sighted hundreds of species of birds that are resident, migratory or present only during the breeding season.

Area:  Municipality of Montignoso, Pietrasanta
Distance: km 10
Altitude difference: mt 0
Difficulty: none T (tourist)
Features: Naturalistic, specifically an important avifauna area, where it is possible to observe many species of birds, some migratory, others residents and still others only present for nesting.
Children: every age
Equipment: free
Dogs: on a leash
Duration:3 hours + stops
Period: in summer late afternoon, in other seasons at any time of the day