Dolomites Declared Natural World Heritage Site

The stunning Italian Dolomite mountains have been declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The organisation made their decision at a meeting in Seville, Spain, on June 26th. The concluding report of the IUCN's international commission of experts, judged the Dolomites, with their particular geological, botanical and scenic qualities, to be unique in the world.

"The Dolomites now officially belong to the most beautiful mountains in the world." said a statement from the Dolomiti Superski organisation which operates nearly 500 ski lifts in the mountains in winter, covering one of the world's largest ski pass areas with up to 1,200klm (750 miles) of runs open on one ticket.

Rising from the depths of the primordial ocean 250 million years ago, the Dolomites were shaped by the relentless effects of water, wind and ice. Named after the geologist who first studied them, Déodat de Dolomieu, and protected by numerous national parks, the Dolomites rise to an altitude of more than 3,000 m.

The best known peaks, such as Marmolada (3,342 m), Tofana di Rozes (3,225 m), Sassolungo (3,181 m), Three Peaks of Lavaredo (2,999 m), Mount Pelmo (3,169 m) and the Pale di San Martino (3,192 m) are the centre pieces of one of the most charming mountain landscapes on the planet.

"The Dolomites are not the highest mountains in the world, but they are the most beautiful," commented one mountaineer.

To make the most of the scenery the Dolomiti Superski management recommend visitors take a ride with the cable car to the Sass Pordoi (2.950 m), the Lagazuoi (2.800 m) or the Marmolada (3.342 m) and enjoy the extraordinary beauty of this winter-landscape.

Every evening the "pale mountains" dress their peaks in fiery red, turning to dark violet. A colour show called "Enrosadira", which due to the special qualities of the Dolomitic rocks can be seen only in these mountains.

"Are you craving for it? Cheer up, soon we have winter!" said the Dolomiti Superski statement.
Courtesy of and © Snow24 plc

Absolutely staggering in the summer, can't comment about the winter, but I guess it's even more stunning 8)

Pretty tidy in the winter!

Went there in feb last year brilliant place