Riserva naturale delle Salse di Nirano, Nature Reserve of Ghirardi

The Salse di Nirano nature reserve is a protected natural area entirely within the municipal territory of Fiorano Modenese, in the province of Modena, in a hilly gully area between the elevations of 150 and 300 meters above sea level. It was the first regional reserve to be established in Emilia-Romagna. The heart of the protected area is characterized by the presence of the unusual geological phenomenon of eruptive salse. This consists of the rise from the subsurface of cold clayey mud mixed with hydrocarbons, which as it dries out builds volcanic-looking cones up to several meters high. The growth of these little volcanoes is balanced between the continuous inflow of mud from the subsoil and their runoff operated by rain. In the silence of the place, the faint mutterings produced by the bubbles of released gas are audible. The entire area is passable along marked trails of easy grade.

The nature reserve is entirely contained within the site of community interest "Salse di Nirano", which covers an area of 371 hectares, almost double the area of the reserve.