Dolomites Italian: Dolomiti German: Dolomiten Range View from Pordoi Country Italy Province: Belluno, South Tyrol, Trentino Highest point: Marmolada - elevation: 3,343 m (10,968 ft) - coordinates: 46°26?N 11°51?E Geology: Sedimentary rocks, including dolomite, and volcanics.
Orogeny: Alpine orogeny Period: Mostly Triassic UNESCO World Heritage Site Region Europe and
North America Location of the Dolomites in the Eastern AlpsParco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi
IUCN Category II (National Park).
Location: Veneto Nearest city: Venice Area: 315.12 km2 (121.67 sq mi) Established: 1990 Governing body Ministero dell'Ambiente.
The Dolomites (Ladin: Dolomites; Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten; Venetian: Do?omiti: Friulian: Dolomitis) are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley (Pieve di Cadore) in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley (Val Sugana). The Dolomites are nearly equally shared between the provinces of Belluno, South Tyrol and Trentino.
There are also mountain groups of similar geological structure that spread over the River Piave to the east - Dolomiti d'Oltrepiave; and far away over the Adige River to the west - Dolomiti di Brenta (Western Dolomites). There is also another smaller group called Piccole Dolomiti (Little Dolomites) located between the provinces of Trentino, Verona and Vicenza (see the map).
One national park and many other regional parks are located in the Dolomites. In August 2009, the Dolomites were declared a natural heritage site by UNESCO.
History
During the First World War, the line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces ran through the Dolomites. There are now open-air war museums at Cinque Torri (Five Towers) and Mount Lagazuoi. Many people visit the Dolomites to climb the Vie ferrate, protected paths created during the First World War. A number of long distance footpaths run across the Dolomites, which are called "Alte vie" (i.e., high paths). Such long trails, which are numbered from 1 to 8, require at least a week to be walked through and are served by numerous "Rifugi" (huts). The first and, perhaps, most renowned is the Alta Via 1.
Geography
The region is commonly divided into the Western and Eastern Dolomites, separated by a line following the Val Badia - Campolongo Pass - Cordevole Valley (Agordino) axis.
Origin of the name.
The name "Dolomites" is derived from the famous French mineralogist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu who was the first to describe the rock, dolomite, a type of carbonate rock which is responsible for the characteristic shapes and colour of these mountains; previously they were called the "pale mountains," and it was only in the early 19th century that the name was Gallicized.
Tourism View of the Dolomites
A tourist mecca, the Dolomites are famous for skiing in the winter months and mountain climbing, hiking, climbing and Base Jumping, as well as paragliding and hang gliding in summer and late spring/early autumn
Free climbing has been a tradition in the Dolomites since 1887, when 17-year-old Georg Winkler soloed the first ascent of the pinnacle Die Vajolettürme.
The main centres include: Rocca Pietore alongside the Marmolada Glacier, which lies on the border of Trentino and Veneto, the small towns of Alleghe, Falcade, Auronzo, Cortina d'Ampezzo and the villages of Arabba, Urtijëi and San Martino di Castrozza, as well as the whole of the Fassa, Gardena and Badia valleys.
Alta Via 1 is a 150 km long high level public footpath which runs through the eastern Dolomites in Italy. It is also known as the Dolomite High Route
It passes through some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites. The path runs south from Pragser Wildsee, near Toblach, to Belluno.
Prags can be accessed by bus and Belluno has both train and bus services.
This is the classic high route in the Dolomites, and also the easiest. It gets slightly more difficult as it goes south, but the only section which might present difficulties is the descent from Schiara, and this can be bypassed.
About 10–15 days are required to complete the full route. A typical day on the route might involve about seven hours walking, with ascents and descents of about 800 metres.
It can be attempted during the period July to September, when the route should be largely free of snow.
Images: google
