Dolomitic Landscape

The Seville Declaration states that the distinctive scenery of the Dolomites has become the archetype of a “dolomitic landscape”. To understand what is meant by this, it is helpful to break down this varied and complex landscape into its main recurring visual features.

Starting from 1,700 m, the average altitude at the boundaries of the core area of the site, and in vertical sequence, from low to high, one encounters:

• gentle foothills covered with woodland and pastures;
• extensive talus deposits, commonly referred to as “scree slopes”, enveloping the base of rocky walls;
• large vertical masses of rock, rising up suddenly from their surroundings;
• ledges and vast plateaux interrupting the incline of rocky walls.

These elements appear in a great range of forms and colours, creating the rich panoramas of the Dolomites. This richness is derived from the geological origins of the landscape and the processes that have shaped the slopes and the composition of the soils. The latter is the basis for the great biodiversity of these natural habitats, from woodland to associations of plants found growing on cliffsides, many of which are unique to the Dolomites.

All of these elements are evolving and can be altered by natural or human phenomena.