7. Volcanoes, atolls and deep waters

Some 233-232 million years ago – the late Ladinian era

The peace and quiet of this archipelago was rent asunder by intense volcanic activity. At first this was under water, then on the surface, throwing up huge quantities of lava onto the sides of the islands and the bottom of the Dolomite Sea.

The relative tranquillity of this part of the Tethys Ocean during the Triassic era was shattered by this volcanic activity. Magma began to rise from the bowels of the earth, coating its crust. A massive volcanic complex was formed and grew in the Predazzo-Monzoni zone of the Dolomite region. Its eruptions poured dust, lava and tuff into the sea, often disrupting the organic communities making up the islands. Some of these were partly covered by the volcanic products, other were literally torn apart by the rising magma or partially destroyed by the earthquakes linked to the volcanic activity. These upheavals further increased the exceptional nature and the complexity of the tropical Dolomite Sea.

Text by Dolomiti Project

The rocks of this era