AVALAnChe InFORMAtIOn - Val Gardena

NATURE RESERVE PUEZ-ODLE
www.valgardena.it
The park is located at an average on 2500 m, and has a surface area of
10200 ha. Its rocky upland features a number of geological peculiarities:
natural bridges and amphitheatre-shaped karst landforms, steep ridges
and rocky towers bear witness to the geological and morphological
changes that this mountain massif has undergone over time. The local
flora and fauna are as diverse as the landscape. Many deciduous trees
grow in the valley, like sycamore maples, birches and aspens, whereas
the high mountain slopes are covered with needle-leaved trees, mainly
spruces and larches. Above the timber line, mugo pines and junipers
mark the end of the conifer forest.
Rhododendrons and small high mountain flowers blanket the areas up
towards the scree slopes. The edelweiss, the pink cinquefoil, the yellow
alpine poppy and the devil’s claw grow here, together with several
varieties of primroses and stone-breakers. The less fertilized downhill
slopes are dotted with asteraceae, bellflowers, gentians, orchids and
faboideae. Numerous animal species live in the park so you are quite
likely to spot hares, squirrels, chamois and marmots, or follow the trail
of pine martens, badgers or alpine ibexes during your walks. Butterflies
flitter over meadows and birds fill the air with their song.
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Nature Reserve Puez-Odle