Page 89 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

INTRODUCING NOR THEAST IT AL Y  87

Nature in the Dolomites
Forests and meadows support a breathtaking
richness of wildlife in the region. Alpine plants,
which flower between June and September,
have evolved their miniature form to survive
the harsh winds.
The Flora

Lago di Misurina is a large and beautiful lake
lying beside the resort of Misurina. The crystal-clear
waters reflect the surrounding mountains, mirror-
ing various peaks such as the distinctive and
dramatic Sorapiss, in shimmering colours. Gentian roots are The orange moun-
used to make a bitter tain lily thrives on
local liqueur. sun-baked slopes.

The pretty burser’s Devil’s claw has
saxifrage grows in distinctive pink
clusters on rocks. flower heads.
The Fauna
Outdoor activities in this area of dramatic
landscapes include skiing in winter, and walking and
rambling along the footpaths, and to picnic sites,
in summer. Chairlifts from the main resorts provide
easy access up into the mountains themselves,
transporting you into some breathtaking scenery.

The ptarmigan changes its plumage from
Torri del Vaiolet Tre Cime di Lavaredo mottled brown in summer to snow white in
2,243 m (7,375 ft) 2,999 m (9,839 ft) winter for effective camouflage. It feeds on
mountain berries and young plant shoots.
The chamois,
a shy mountain
antelope prized
for its soft skin,
is protected in
the national parks,
where hunting
is forbidden.
Roe deer are very common,
as their natural predators –
wolves and lynx – are
decreasing in number. An
appetite for tree saplings
causes problems for
foresters.
The Torri del Vaiolet Tre Cime di Lavaredo,
is part of the beautiful or Drei Zinnen, dominate
Catinaccio range, the valleys north of the
known for its colour. Lago di Misurina.

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