The Dolomites are a part of the Southern Alps and are characterised by bright dolomite rock. The sanctuary covers about 135,000 hectares and is situated in the north of Italy stretching over the provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino, Belluno, Udine and Pordenone.
The Italian mountain chain was added on the list of World Natural and Cultural Heritage sites on 26 June by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Dolomites mainly owe their inscription to this list to their geological history of origins. They were born as coral reefs about 250 million years ago when the Adriatic and Eurasian plates collided with each other and pushed the coral reef of the whole Alpine area upwards. This is how and when the Dolomites were born! Today, the rugged buttes of the „pale mountains“ alternate with deep valleys and gentle hills.
Another UNESCO selection criterion was the exceptional beauty of the landscape. The topography of the region is characterised by a remarkable concentration of spectacular massifs. The dramatic play of colours during sunrise and sunset in the South Tyrolean Dolomites is unforgettable and an impressive example of natural spectacles in the Dolomites.
