Dolomiti Friulane and d’Oltre Piave

This System extends over the Provinces of Pordenone and Udine with a small area in the Province of Belluno. Its surface area of 21,461 hectares is enclosed by the river Piave, the higher reaches of the Tagliamento river and by Val Tramontina and Val Cellina. The Dolomiti Friulane e d’Oltre Piave, to give it its full name, is a fairly compact, continuous system of peaks offering breathtaking views over its magical landscape.

Moving from north to south you encounter Monte Cridola, the Monfalconi peaks – which include the spectacular Campanile di Val Montanaia – the Spalti di Toro peaks, and the Duranno-Cima Preti chain. What makes this System special is its extensive wilderness areas. Here more than anywhere else you can marvel at the sheer power of Mother Nature, largely untouched by human interference. In 1996, the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park was established to protect and promote the area’s geological and natural heritage.

Dolomiti Friulane and d’Oltre Piave 4

Geology

This System is dominated by rocks formed from the end of the Triassic to the Jurassic and therefore presenting the final chapters in the saga of the Dolomites. Additionally, these mountains in the south-eastern region of the Dolomites were shaped by a very distinctive lithification process. The rock sequence is interrupted by thrusts faults resulting in repetitions of the sequence. Main Dolomite rock, deposited towards the end of the Triassic period on an extensive flood plain, is the most common, showing an early tendency to trap poorly oxygenated basins between the rock platforms. Many dinosaur footprints from the late Triassic period have been discovered in this System. The geomorphological profile of this large System depends largely on the complexity of the folds and faults, in addition to the variation in rock types. This is because the System lies close to the southern edge of the chain where deformation due to movements of the crust was and still is more pronounced and widespread.

The geology of System 4: Friulian Dolomites and d’Oltre Piave – PDF

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Mountain huts

Accessible Dolomites

Museums

High quality

Stages of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail: 22-22bis, 23-25, 26-28, 29-31

360° pictures of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail: Val Montanaia, Monte Pramaggiore, Val Zemola, Vajont

This System is dominated by rocks formed from the end of the Triassic to the Jurassic and therefore presenting the final chapters in the saga of the Dolomites. Additionally, these mountains in the south-eastern region of the Dolomites were shaped by a very distinctive lithification process. The rock sequence is interrupted by thrusts faults resulting in repetitions of the sequence. Main Dolomite rock, deposited towards the end of the Triassic period on an extensive flood plain, is the most common, showing an early tendency to trap poorly oxygenated basins between the rock platforms. Many dinosaur footprints from the late Triassic period have been discovered in this System. The geomorphological profile of this large System depends largely on the complexity of the folds and faults, in addition to the variation in rock types. This is because the System lies close to the southern edge of the chain where deformation due to movements of the crust was and still is more pronounced and widespread.

The geology of System 4: Friulian Dolomites and d’Oltre Piave – PDF

Mountain huts

Accessible Dolomites

Museums

High quality

Stages of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail: 22-22bis, 23-25, 26-28, 29-31

360° pictures of the Dolomites World Heritage Geotrail: Val Montanaia, Monte Pramaggiore, Val Zemola, Vajont

La Val di BricaDolomiti FriulaneIl Bivacco Perugini e il Campanile di Val Montanaia

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Campanile di Val Montanaia

Rifugio Casera Mela – Rifugio Maniago

Rifugio Padova, forcella Spe

Anello Rifugio Pordenone