Riserva Naturale Speciale Lago di Pergusa (IFF-0531)

On Saturday 16th March 2024 at 10:14 UTC, Louis ON7LO a radio amateur from Belgium made contact with Salvo IT9HJJ/P a radio amateur from Sicily, Itlay who was operating from Riserva Naturale Speciale Lago di Pergusa (IFF-0531) on the 20m amateur radio band.

Riserva Naturale Speciale Lago di Pergusa (IFF-0531) is a protected area of 403 hectares in the Erei Mountains on the island of Sicily. It was designated as a Nature Reserve in 1995 as an IUCN Management Category IV area.

Lake Pergusa is an endorheic circled by a group of hills. As the only wetland area in this part of the island it is an important rest areas for migratory birds and is rich in biodivesity.

The flora in the area which is adapted to the high salinity includes various species of rush (Juncus acutus and Juncus maritimus), Suaeda maritima and glasswort (Salicornia patula) and the atriple (Atriplex prostrata subspecies latifolia),

Fauna in the reserve includes many species of migratory birds which change with the seasons throughout the year.