Park institution

Everything extraordinarily exciting

Institution

The Regional Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites was established by the Regional Law of the Autonomous Region of Friuli – Venezia Giulia  #42 on September 30^th  1996.

Site

The Park is included in the mountain area above the high Friuli- Venetian plain. The protected area extends from the province of Pordenone to that of Udine and embraces Valcellina (municipalities of Andreis, Cimolais, Claut, Erto and Casso), the Upper Valley of Tagliamento (Forni di Sopra, Forni di Sotto municipalities) and territories converging towards Val Tramontina (municipalities of Frisanco and Tramonti di Sopra).

Extension

The Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites is the largest of the only two parks in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: with an area of ​​36,950 hectares. Nearby there is also the Regional Nature Reserve of the Cellina Gorge (304 hectares), managed by the Park itself.

Territory

The Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites is a paradise for naturalistic hiking and trekking; all activities are guaranteed by an adequate network of trails and several support structures (huts – shelters, bivouacs).

The territory, considered of great geological, environmental and natural interest, is characterized by a high degree of wilderness, particularly noticeable thanks to the absence of communication roads (there are only a few ways of penetration into the valley and service slopes not connected among the large valleys) and also difficult to find, by extension, in other areas of the Alps. The chain Monfacloni with the Campanile of Val Montanaia, the “Canpuros” high altitude grasslands, the pastures of Senons and wilderness of the Meduna Channels, make it a unique environment. Connected to the park there is also the nearby Natural Reserve of the Cellina Gorge, significant and spectacular engraving that the Cellina stream has dug in the limestone layers among Barcis, Andreis and Montereale Valcellina before its outlet in the Friulian plain. The morphology of these mountains reveals a remarkable and continuous evolution of the territory demonstrated by the presence of faults, thrust faults and fractures in opposition to moraines and earth pyramids due to the excavation and deposit of ancient glaciers; peaks and dolomite towers ( Campanile of Val Montanaia), as well as rock layers with many different characteristics (the San Daniele “books”) also indicate an intense alpine erosion.

The area is affected by three major tectonic lines: “Upper Tagliamento line”, “Overthrust Duranno Monte Alto Meduna” and ” Periadriatic Overthrust (or fault)”. The latter can be easily identified in the Andreis area, south of Mount Raut, which determines a singular landscape. Another factor that has characterized the geomorphological aspect of the inland areas, was the widespread presence of glaciers, lasted until a few thousand years ago, in all the valleys of the pre-Alpine area. The proofs are highlighted by some  valley sections and large and small glacial “circuses” modeled in the mountainous sides. We must also remember the great deposits of the Monte Toc landslide (or Vajont), evoking the catastrophe of 1963 and constituting a single example of a colossal landslide.

Paths

Hiking over is the only way to pass through the Natural Park of the Friulian Dolomites and you can do that following the primary path network, always respecting safety standards, guarantee maintenance, environmental impact and historical importance. Do not miss the thematic routes, accessible to all (some also to people with disabilities), close to the residential areas and introducing, representing and providing insights on the inside area of ​​the park. The remaining tracks, more difficult and characterized by areas with paths devoid of signage and few trail markers, ensure the conservation of traditional mountaineering aspects, namely the taste for adventure and discovery, and at the same time ensuring the spontaneous protection of large areas.

Municipalities involved

– Municipalities of Andreis, Cimolais, Claut, Erto and Casso, Frisanco and Tramonti di Sopra
(Province of Pordenone)
– Municipalities of Forni di Sopra and Forni di Sotto (Province of Udine)

Major peaks

Toc (m 1921), Duranno (m 2652), Preti (2706), Monfalconi di Montanaia (m 2548), Vacalizza (m 2266), Pramaggiore (m 2478), Cridola (m 2851), Cornaget (m 2323), Dosaip (m 2062), Caserine (m 2306), Chiarescons (m 2168), Frascola (m 1961), Ressetum (m 2067), Raut (m 2025), Castello (m 1923), Borgà (m 2228), Turlon (m 2312), Vetta Fornezze (2110).

Major rivers and streams

Zemola, Vajont, Cimoliana, Settimana, Cellina, Silisia, Meduna, Poschiadea, Dria, Giaf, Tagliamento.

Flora

The considerable wealth of flora in the whole area of ​​the park depends on the opportunity of shelter and survival given by these territories to countless species during the period of  the glaciers expansion. Therefore, besides the multiplicity of species typical of the temperate zone, there are also authentic endemic elements, ie  native organisms formed in ancient times today still surviving in original and limited areas. Among these endemic species we highlight: the huteri Sandstone, the Gentiana froelichi, the splendid Pianella della Madonna (Cypripedium calceolus), the Daphne blagayana (a specimen of Timeleacea found in Italy in the area of ​​Raut and Tramontino only in 1989).

Fauna

The fauna is also interesting: this depends mainly on the environmental variability of this Alpine-mountain area. Permanently we can find chamois, roe deer, marmots, grouses, black grouses, deer and a large colony of wild goats in continuous expansion. A sign of the great naturalness of the park environment is the Golden Eagle consistency; in every valley is estimated the presence of a breeding pair. The existence of a well-structured and essential population of Golden Eagle, detectable by the occupation of all territories available, clearly indicates environmental health and the presence of a rich fauna.

Symbol

The Golden Eagle (Aquila crysaetus), present in every valley, is a sign of a high level  environmental health.

Monitoring

It is carried out by the Regional Forestry Department and the Provincial Supervisory Corps.
Forestry stations of Barcis Forestry, Claut, Forni di Sopra, Maniago, Meduno.
Provincial Supervisory Corps of Udine, Pordenone.