The Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten; Friulian: Dolomitis) are a section of the Southern Alps. They are located 70% in the provinces of Belluno, the rest in the provinces of Bolzano-Bozen, and Trento (all in north-eastern Italy) and extend from the Adige river in the west to the Piave valley (Pieve di Cadore) in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley (Val Pusteria) and the Sugana Valley (Val Sugana).
The name "Dolomites" is derived from the famous French mineralogist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu who in 1791 was the first to describe the rock, dolomite, a sedimentary carbonate rock and a mineral, both composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg(CO3)2.
Dolomite is responsible for the characteristic shapes and colour of these mountains. What Dolomieu noticed was that dolomite looks like limestone, but unlike limestone it does not bubble when treated with weak acid. Sometimes dolomite is called dolostone.
The given co-ordinates are for the start of the walk from the village of Campitello Di Fassa. From here follow the Stradà de Salin, up the gorge of the Duron river. The exposed walls of the gorge show the distinct layers of dolomite As you walk along the gorge you will see clearly many other geological features which include:-
1) the ‘folding’ of the rock during the formation of the Dolomites,
2) several forms of physical and bio erosion including water erosion of the boulders in the gorge, cracking of the rock face by ice, expansion and contraction, plant roots etc.
To log this EarthCache you must first email me using this link or via the profile, with the answer to the following questions
1) What is the name and height of the highest peak in the Dolomites?
2) What is the date cast into the man-made structure visible from N46 28.943 E011 44.195?
When you receive a confirmatory email, log the cache and include a photograph of any geological feature you found interesting in the Val Duron. You might like to include the waypoint and a brief explaination of the feature in your log.
New EarthCache guidelines 2010
Under the new guidelines, a photograph can be requested but specific detail cannot be required. Consequently your photograph can be just a general photo of the site. However a personal touch such as your GPSr (or yourself/member of your team!) in the photo makes it much more interesting. To log this cache you may submit any other geological feature you see (other than those mentioned) instead of a photograph.
Please log the cache and include your photograph. I will review your answers and if there is any problem I will contact you to agree a course of action.
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