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The Regional Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites is located north of the municipality of Cortina d’Ampezzo, along the border with Trentino-Alto Adige and was officially opened on March 22, 1990.
It is a protected area among impressive mountain ranges, whose highest peaks exceed altitudes of 10.499 ft. Different forest, rocky, wet and prairie environments feature a wealth of biodiversity.

FAUNA

The Park is home to a large number of animal species. In the forests and clearings of the valley floor, there is a fair number of roe deers and deers, while the most typical birds in the forests are woodpeckers and owls, thriving inside so many tree cavities (black woodpeckers and head owls, red woodpeckers and dwarf owls). There are also hazel grouses and capercaillies.
In recent years, three large mammals have made their reappearance in the Ampezzo Dolomites: bears, lynxes, and golden jackals.

FLORA

Coniferous forests cover the side of the valleys but Travenanzes, which is completely devoid of tall woods due to the harshness of the slopes and the lack of sunshine.
The predominant species in the forests of the mountain and sub-alpine plain is the Norway spruce (Picea abies), especially abundant in Ra Stua, and Antruiles.

There are also some strips of beech forest with scattered yews (Taxus baccata), while silver firs (Abies alba) can be seen in more oceanic microclimate areas.
These three species are found on the Park valley floor, at the very limit of their growth possibilities. Where the arboreal vegetation gradually fades towards the pastures, larches and Swiss stone pines (Pinus cembra) form impressive high-altitude thickets, mostly featuring centuries-old trees.

The several grasslands present in the park can be regarded as a high-altitude ecosystem of exceptional importance for their lush biodiversity. In fact, several endemic and rare species grow right there (found only in the Ampezzo Dolomites), including Sempervivum dolomiticum – the real iconic plant of this Park.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)