Bizarre, massive, stunning … that's what the Dolomites look like. This world-famous mountain range, which was formed over 200 million years ago, has recently been designated a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Dolomites extend over five Italian provinces: Bolzano, Trento, Belluno, Udine, and Pordenone.
At sunset, these so-called “pale mountains” assume an almost unreal reddish shimmer which is due to the dolomitic rock they are made of.
This mountain range consists primarily of whitish-grey
sedimentary rock which forms typical layers sometimes interspaced with layers of
fossilized coral riffs.
The predominant rock itself is referred to as
dolomite, which can be subdivided into various types of rock such as
Sciliar dolomite and overlying
main dolomite.
The word “dolomite” is derived from the surname of the French geologist
Déodat de Dolomieu. In
1789 he discovered this
mineral in South Tyrol. Later, the name of the mineral was also used to describe the mountain ranges.
The
“Sesto Dolomites” are the northeasternmost range of the Dolomites and account for the nature reserve of the same name.
The main massifs of the Sesto Dolomites:- The Drei Zinnen (“Three Peaks”; Italian: “Tre Cime di Lavaredo”)sollte hier nicht zuerst Three Peaks stehen und dann Drei Zinnen in Klammer? are an imposing massif of the Sesto Dolomites, which not only came to symbolize the whole range of the Dolomites, but are also a natural monument which attracts nature and mountain lovers alike. They have also become a “sunny “playground” where mountaineers and climbers find routes featuring the highest levels of difficulty. Their peaks mark the border between the province of Belluno to the south and that of Bolzano to the north. Until 1919, the line Monte Paterno–Forcella Lavaredo–Three Peaks formed the border between Italy and Austria. Nowadays, it marks the border between German- and Italian-speaking communities. The three peaks tower over sparse scree slopes. The Cima Grande/Big Peak is 2,999 m/9,839 ft. high. It rises between the other two peaks: the Cima Piccola/Little Peak (2,857 m/9,373 ft.) and the Cima Occidentale/Western Peak (2,973 m/9,753 ft.). The massif of the Three Peaks also includes other, less impressive peaks: the Punta di Frida (2,792 m/9,160 ft.) and the Preuss Riss (2,700 m/8,858 ft.).
- Sesto's Sundial is rightly regarded as the world's largest clock. This sundial is formed by five peaks, i.e. the Cima Nove, Cima Dieci, Cima Undici, Cima Dodici, and Cima Uno. Each summit owes its name to the relation between the time of day and the position of the sun: the name of each of these five mountains (eg. “Undici” = eleven”) namely tells you what time it is when the sun is just above its summit. The sundial is accurate provided you look at it from the correct position – which corresponds exactly to the location of the Waldheim Hotel.
- The highest mountain of the Sesto Dolomites is the Cima Tre Scarperi, which reaches 3,152 m/10,341 ft. Sesto's “home mountain”, which rises between the Fischlein and Innerfeld valleys, has a bizarre and majestic shape and is affectionately nicknamed the “scarpero” (the shoemaker) by the locals.
The Sesto Dolomites are a hikers' & climbers' paradise in South Tyrol … Come and stay at the Waldheim Hotel! We shall be delighted to welcome you and to show you the nearby peaks! Two professionals, Herbert & Christian, are at your service ... Our motto is: “Experience the Dolomites with us!”