FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE DOLOMITES
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The Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site The rock of S. Croce massif is calcareous and it traces milions of years back. Many studies were made on this dolomitic rock. The Dolomites, that is in this very place, S. Croce Rock are of calcareous and coralline origin. They get their name from the french geologist Déodate Guy Silvane Tancrède de Grandet, Sir of Dolomieu, which discovered them at the end of the 17th Century. The Tetis, a warm and swallow sea, covered this very place more than two hundred milions of years ago, In this very place. Over the years mineral and organic depots started to form in the terziaria età rocks. The first glaciazione, which occured two millions of years ago covered the whole territory with ice. From that time alternated poahses of warmyth and cold gave the rocks gave them the shape we know today, twelve thousand years ago. Climatic factors contributed to form then and give the particular shape the onlyone in the world. The dolomitic rock called "dolomia" is rich of fossili and minerals. These minerals give the dolomites their particular range of colors from pink to flashy yellow to grey. At dawn these colors allow a brathtaking view. This phenomenon called "enrosadira" by locals, gave way to many legenda and misteries unique. And the S. Croce rock breattaking view. Thanks to their extraordinary beauty, the Dolomites were crowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. Fauna Most of the Alta Badia territory is forest, in which fir, larch and pine predomintate. When walking through these woods, it’s possible to witness a veritable concert of a diverse range of birds and, if one is lucky, sightings of deer, hares and at high enough altitudes, the chamois, are also possible. Of course, the delicious mushrooms of the mountains are not to be missed. Their aromas make them famous and some of the best-known examples are porcini, chanterelles and manine. A walk in the woods under the Santa Croce mountains has exceptional appeal from both sides: one offers marvelous views of the valley and overlooks a large part of Alta Badia, while the other side provides amazing views of the impressive mountain chain comprised of Santa Croce (mt. 2.907), Varella (mt.3.034) and Conturines (mt. 3.067). Flora In the summer months across the alpine meadows of Santa Croce / “La Crusc” and Armentara, one can admire a remarkable carpet of blossoms composed of popular alpine flowers such as the Alpine Anemone (Pulsatilla alpina), Genziana (Gentiana), Mountain Arnica (Arnica), Nigritella (Nigritella Nigra), Soldanella (Soldanella), Red Lily (Lilium bulbiferum), Lousewort (Pedicularis), Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthenum vulgare). The famous edelweiss are found at higher altitudes. Most alpine flowers are protected and preserved to guarantee their survival. |
