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The Tre Cime Natural Park was established in 1981. Included in the “Natura 2000” European ecological network, it covers an area of 29.400 acres and is bordered to the North by Val Pusteria, to the East by Val di Sesto, to the West by Val di Landro, and to the South by the border with the province of Belluno. An It’s a must-see destination for professional climbers from all over the world, thanks to its many famous peaks, such as the “Tre Cime di Lavaredo”.
The park has a peculiar morphology shaped by the action of water and glaciers in the last two or three million years.

In the park, there are several alpine lakes: the largest, Lake Landro, can be found in the valley of the same name; there are also huge forests of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and larches (Larix decidua), also including broad-leaved trees such as birches and rowans (Sorbus aucuparia).
Larches, in particular, are very important, as they are a precious source of wood; moreover, the meadows with larch trees are used for haymaking and grazing.

THE FLORA

In the cracks and crevices of the rocks facing South, several endemic species have survived the glaciations, such as bear’s ear (Primula auricula), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), alpine columbine ( Aquilegia alpina), and Hausmann’s rock jasmine (Androsace hausmannii).

Above the tree line, there are alpine meadows capable of withstanding strong winds and frost; up to 9.186 ft of altitude there’s abundant Carex with Sesleria spp , while on the ridges and the peaks Elyna myosuroides prevails: a species of Siberian origin, very resistant to winter frost and very-well used to variable pH values of the soil.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)