Flora and fauna

Visit the Dolomites

THE FLORA OF THE DOLOMITES

The fascinating world of flora of the Unesco Dolomites contains a large number of plant species, some of them unique in their kind.

There are about 1400 different types of flowers and plants in the Belluno Dolomites National Park alone, a number that is approximately doubled considering the vastness of the overall heritage of all the UNESCO sites.

The scenario completely changes appearance, both from a morphological and microclimatic point of view, according to the territory and the altitude.

In the lower belt surrounding the valleys there is a predominantly broad-leaved wood which, as the altitude increases, transforms into conifers and beech woods.

Edelweiss, bluebells, gentians and rhododendrons, are just some of the many flowers that can be found walking among the pristine nature of grassy clearings and high Dolomite rocks, coloring the entire landscape with a chromatic vastness.

According to tradition, many plants are used both from the officinal point of view and in the culinary field, enriching the tasty dishes in our kitchens as well as grappas, flavoring their taste, ideal for concluding a splendid dinner with friends in a refuge. 

But beware, most of these plants are protected and therefore collection is prohibited.

dolomites

THE FAUNA OF THE DOLOMITES

It is a unique emotion to visit the Dolomites with their vastness and morphological diversity, the ideal habitat for numerous animal species.

Among the birds the most famous are the golden eagle, the ptarmigan and the capercaillie, while among the nocturnal birds of prey there is the dwarf owl and the capogrosso owl.
THEBrown bear, shy but very greedy, has been sighted in various areas, together with the lynx, thanks to an environmental improvement, while in the family of ungulates, roe deer, chamois, red deer, ibex and mouflon are very common.
Among the rodents we have the squirrel and the marmot, standing upright and attentive among the rocks, observing the predators and launching its typical whistle to alert the other marmots intent on feeding.
Then there are badgers, martens, ermines, while in the more humid areas you can meet amphibians such as the fire salamander (black and yellow) or the alpine newt.
Finally, not to be underestimated, while visiting the Dolomites, i reptiles, among which there are frequent encounters with the viper or the adder. But fear not, their instincts will always make them prefer escape over bite.

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