Dolomites

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The Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten) are a section of the Alps. They are located in equal parts in the provinces of Belluno, Bolzano-Bozen, and Trento (all in northern Italy) and extend from the Adige river in the west to the Pieve valley (Pieve di Cadore) in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley (Val Pusteria) and the Sugana Valley (Val Sugana).

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. The range includes more than forty glaciers.

A tourist mecca, the Dolomites are famous for skiing and mountain climbing. The main centres include Auronzo, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Arabba, Ortisei and San Martino di Castrozza.

During the First World War the line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces ran through the Dolomites. There are open air war museums at 5 Torri and Mount Lagazuoi. Many people visit the Dolomites to climb the Via ferrata. These are protected paths which were first created in the Dolomites during the First World War. A number of long distance footpaths run across the Dolomites; including the Alta Via 1.

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 color of these mountains.

360° panoramic view from Marmolada, highest peak in the Dolomites.
360° panoramic view from Marmolada, highest peak in the Dolomites.

Contents

[edit] Major Peaks

Name metres feet Name metres feet
Marmolada 3344 10,972 Pala di San Martino 2996 9831
Antelao 3264 10,706 Rosengartenspitze 2981 9781
Tofana di Mezzo 3241 10,633 Marmarole 2961 9715
Punta Sorapis 3229 10,594 Cima di Fradusta 2941 9649
Monte Civetta 3220 10,564 Fermedaturm 2867 9407
Vernel 3145 10,319 Cima d'Asta 2848 9344
Monte Cristallo 3199 10,496 Cima di Canali 2846 9338
Cima di Vezzana 3191 10,470 Croda Grande 2839 9315
Cimon della Pala 3186 10,453 Vajoletturm (highest) 2821 9256
Langkofel 3178 10,427 Sass Maor 2816 9239
Pelmo 3169 10,397 Cima di Ball 2783 9131
Dreischusterspitze 3162 10,375 Cima della Madonna (Sass Maor) 2751 9026
Boespitze (Sella group) 3152 10,342 Rosetta 2741 8993
Croda Rossa (Hoher Caisl) 3148 10,329 Croda da Lago 2716 8911
Piz Popena 3143 10,312 Central Grasleitenspitze 2705 8875
Elferkofel 3115 10,220 Sciliar 2562 8406
Grohmannspitze (Langkofel) 3111 10,207 Sasso di Mur 2554 8380
Zwölferkofel 3091 10,142 Cima delle Dodici 2338 7671
Sass Rigais (Geislerspitzen) 3027 9932 Monte Pavione 2336 7664
Drei Zinnen 3003 9853 Cima di Posta 2235 7333
Kesselkogel (Rosengarten) 3001 9846 Monte Pasubio 2232 7323
Fünffingerspitze 2997 9833

[edit] Major Passes

Name meters feet
Passo d' Ombretta (Campitello to Caprile), foot path 2738 8983
Langkofeljoch (Gröden Valley to Campitello), foot path 2683 8803
Tschagerjoch (Karersee to the Vajolet Glen), foot path 2644 8675
Grasleiten Pass (Vajolet Glen to the Grasleiten Glen), foot path 2597 8521
Passo di Pravitale (Rosetta Plateau to the Pravitale Glen), foot path 2580 8465
Passo delle Comelle (same to Cencenighe), foot path 2579 8462
Passo della Rosetta (San Martino di Castrozza to the great limestone Rosetta plateau), foot path 2573 8442
Vajolet Pass (Tiers to the Vajolet Glen), foot path 2549 8363
Passo di Canali (Primiero to Agordo), foot path 2497 8193
Tierseralpljoch (Campitello to Tiers), foot path 2455 8055
Passo di Ball (San Martino di Castrozza to the Pravitale Glen), foot path 2450 8038
Forcella di Giralba (Sexten to Auronzo), foot path 2436 7992
Col dei Bos (Falzarego Glen to the Travernanzes Glen), foot path 2313 7589
Forcella Grande (San Vito to Auronzo), foot path 2262 7422
Pordoi pass (Caprile to Campitello), carriage road 2250 7382
Sellajoch (Groden Glen to Campitello), carriage road 2218 7277
Tre Sassi Pass (Cortina to St Cassian), foot path 2199 7215
Mahlknechtjoch (Upper Duron Glen to the Seiser Alp), foot path 2168 7113
Grödnerjoch (Gröden Glen to Colfuschg), carriage road 2137 7011
Falzarego Pass (Caprile to Cortina), carriage road 2117 6946
Fedaja Pass (Campitello to Caprile), bridle path 2046 6713
Valles Pass (Paneveggio to Falcade), carriage road 2032 6667
Rolle Pass (Predazzo to San Martino di Castrozza and Primiero), carriage road 1984 6509
Forcella Forada (Caprile to San Vito), bridle path 1975 6480
Passo di San Pellegrino (Moena to Cencenighe), carriage road 1910 6267
Forcella d'Alleghe (Alleghe to the Zoldo Glen), foot path 1820 5971
Tre Croci Pass (Cortina to Auronzo), carriage road 1808 5932
Passo di Costalunga or Karerpaß (Nova Levante to Vigo di Fassa), carriage road 1753 5751
Monte Croce Pass (Innichen and Sexten to the Piave Valley and Belluno), carriage road 1638 5374
Ampezzo Pass (Toblach to Cortina and Belluno), carriage path 1544 5066
Cereda Pass (Primiero to Agordo), carriage road 1372 4501
Toblach Pass (Bruneck to Lienz), railway over 1209 3967

[edit] Photographs

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 46°23′N, 11°51′E