Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Drei Zinnen
The north faces of the Tre Cime
Highest point
Elevation	2,999 m (9,839 ft)
Prominence	568 m (1,864 ft)
Listing	Great north faces of the Alps
Coordinates	46°37′07″N 12°18′20″E
Naming
English translation	Three Peaks, Three Merlons
Language of name	Italian, German
Geography
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Province of Belluno, Province of South Tyrol, Italy
Country	Italy
Regions	Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Parent range	Sexten Dolomites, Alps
Climbing
First ascent	August 21, 1869 by Paul Grohmann with guides Franz Innerkofler and Peter Salcher from south.

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (pronounced [ˌtre tˈtʃiːme di lavaˈreːdo]; Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help)), also called the Drei Zinnen (pronounced [ˌdʁaɪ ˈtsɪnən] ; Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help)), are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy. They are probably one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. The three peaks, from east to west, are:

• Cima Piccola / Kleine Zinne ("little peak")
• Cima Grande / Große Zinne ("big peak")
• Cima Ovest / Westliche Zinne ("western peak").

The photo of Tre Cime was made at the foot of Torre di Toblin mountain

The peaks are composed of well-layered dolomites of the Dolomia Principale (Hauptdolomit) formation, Carnian to Rhaetian in age, as are many other groups in the Dolomites (e.g., the Tofane, the Pelmo or the Cinque Torri).

Until 1919 the peaks formed part of the border between Italy and Austria. Now they lie on the border between the Italian provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno and still are a part of the linguistic boundary between German-speaking and Italian-speaking majorities. The Cima Grande has an elevation of 2,999 metres (9,839 ft). It stands between the Cima Piccola, at 2,857 metres (9,373 ft), and the Cima Ovest, at 2,973 metres (9,754 ft).

First ascents

The first ascent of the Cima Grande was on August 21, 1869, by Paul Grohmann with guides Franz Innerkofler and Peter Salcher. The Cima Ovest was first climbed exactly ten years later, on August 21, 1879, by Michel Innerkofler with G. Ploner, a tourist. The Cima Piccola was first climbed on July 25, 1881, by Michel and Hans Innerkofler. The routes of these three first ascents are still the normal ascent routes; the Cima Piccola's route is the most difficult of the three.

Emilio Comici was the first to climb the north face of the Cima Grande in 1933 in a party of three, after an ascent time of 3 days and 2 nights. This partly overhanging northern face is considered by climbers to be one of the great north faces of the Alps.

File:Cima Grande3 2.jpg

Jacob Harmer climing Cima Grande via Comici-Dimai route

Tourism

View of Paternkofel/Monte Paterno (left) and the Tre Cime

Tre Cime Natural Park is named after the famous peaks. The visitor centre provides information concerning the trails, natural and man-made landscapes of the Sexten Dolomites and it is located at the former Grand Hotel in Dobbiaco.

Numerous well-marked routes lead from the surrounding communities to and around the peaks. The most common route is from Paternkofel/Monte Paterno to the alpine hut Auronzo at 2,333 m (7,654 ft), over Paternsattel (Patern Pass) to the Locatelli alpine hut (Dreizinnenhütte) at 2,405 m (7,890 ft), and then to the peaks. There are a number of other routes as well.

Nearby communities include Auronzo di Cadore (in the province of Belluno, region of Veneto), Toblach/Dobbiaco, Sexten/Sesto, and the Puster Valley (in the province of Bolzano, region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol).

The area has also staged many finishes in Giro d'Italia.

History

Monument ai Bersaglieri (meaning “marksmen” in English) at Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Since the front line between Italy and Austria during World War I ran through the Tre Cime peaks, there are a number of fortifications, trenches, tunnels, iron ladders, and commemorative plaques in the area. There was intense fighting throughout the so-called "White War" between 1915 and 1917.

Film and television appearances

Tre Cime has been used as a filming location for:

• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
• Solo: A Star Wars Story

Gallery

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  View from Monte Paterno
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  Panoramic
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  By night

See also

• List of highest paved roads in Europe
• List of mountain passes
• Lake Misurina

References

• Huber, Alexander; Willi Schwenkmeier (2003). Drei Zinnen. Bergverlag Rother. ISBN 3-7633-7513-9.
• Schemfil, Viktor (1984). Die Kämpfe im Drei-Zinnen-Gebiet und am Kreuzberg bei Sexten 1915-1917. Universitätsverlag Wagner. ISBN 3-7030-0170-4.
• Goedeke, Richard (1988). Sextener Dolomiten. (Alpenvereinsführer) Bergverlag Rother. ISBN 3-7633-1255-2.

External links

• Auronzo di Cadore
• CAI Auronzo
• The Great War in the Dolomites (Italian)
• 360° Panorama view
• Homepage of the Tourism Authority