Читать книгу Shorter Walks in the Dolomites. 50 varied day walks in the mountains онлайн

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In 1860, with the theory of the biblical Flood long since rejected, German scholar Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen proposed their genesis as a coral reef, work that was further developed by Edmund von Mojsisovics. While the sedimentary nature of dolomite is undeniable, disagreement continues over the nature of its ‘mutation’ from limestone. The earliest theory came from Leopold von Buch in the 1820s. He suggested that the magnesium-rich vapours released from molten volcanic rocks penetrated the limestone, transforming it. More recently, researchers in Brazil have suggested the efforts of industrious bacteria in tropical environs. According to legend, however, the splendidly pale Dolomite rock is a result of it being coated with fine white gossamer woven from moon rays.

Plants and flowers

The Dolomites area boasts over 1500 species of glorious flowering plants. This is a quarter of the total found in the whole of Italy and these blooms alone are a good reason to go walking in summer. Heading the list is the mythical edelweiss. Found in alpine meadows, its felt-like petals form delicate overlapping stars. While not especially eye-catching, its blanched aspect inspired the legend that it was brought down from the moon by a princess, to provide a memory of the pale lunar landscape for which she was pining away.