Dolomites – UNESCO World Natural Heritage

Magnificent Beauty

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Dolomites – Tre Cime, Sciliar, Alpe di Siusi and Catinaccio, Fanes-Senes-Braies, the Bletterbach Gorge, and the Odle Peaks

Resonant names that are surely familiar to enthusiastic mountaineers and nature lovers. The Dolomites are as unique in appearance as they are varied, and absolutely one-of-a-kind in their geology. Dreamlike settings for hikers and cyclists, habitat for many wild animals and rare plants.

Together with some other mountain ranges, the Dolomites were added to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list in 2009 because of their “unique monumental beauty” – according to the committee’s reasoning.

Natural Treasures of South Tyrol

The following areas in South Tyrol were included in the World Natural Heritage list:

• The Sciliar-Catinaccio-Latemar Nature Park
• The Bletterbach Gorge
• The Trudner Horn Nature Park
• The Puez-Odle Nature Park
• The Fanes-Senes-Prags Nature Park
• The Sexten Dolomites Nature Park with the famous Tre Cime

Other World Natural Heritage areas in the regions of Veneto and Friuli as well as in the Province of Trento:

• The area around Pelmo and Croda da Lago in Veneto between Cadore, Zoldano, and Ampezzo
• The Marmolada Group, with the highest peak of the Dolomites (3,343 m) and the extensive glacier
• The Pale di San Martino, Pale di San Lucano, and the Belluno Dolomites
• The Friulian Dolomites and the Oltre Piave as the easternmost part in the provinces of Pordenone and Udine
• The northern Dolomites between South Tyrol and Veneto with the Ampezzo Dolomites

That the Dolomites in South Tyrol and in other regions were declared World Natural Heritage sites means, on the one hand, worldwide recognition and acknowledgment. On the other hand, the honorable title “World Natural Heritage” comes with the general mission to protect, maintain, and preserve the nature and landscape as well as possible for future generations.