The protected area is located entirely in the municipality of Mezzani, between the mouths of the rivers Parma and Enza and extends over an area of about 65 hectares. The nature reserve is called Parma Morta because today it develops on what was a riverbed of the Parma stream, which in ancient times flowed into the river Enza and in 1870 was merged into the river Po.
The river branch once abandoned today is an important wetland and marshland area, which welcomes plants and animals typical of this environment such as amphibians, reptiles and birds that frequent the waters of the river covered by lentils of water. The woods that run along the banks of the inlet are often interspersed with shrubs and white willows, while among the climbing species there are the vitalba and the brionia and, sporadically, even the wild hops. The reed beds and the vegetation of the swamp offer shelter and allow shelter to many species of birds, which here hide from predators and reproduce.
Throughout the year we can observe the moorhen and the kestrel while only in summer we can find the wonderful night heron. In summer, in the vegetation of the reserve you can clearly distinguish the song of the green frog, but also the tree frog is among the most recognizable amphibians in the area. Less visible is the crested newt which, hidden, spends its days in the cold water.
