Читать книгу Italy's Sibillini National Park. Walking and Trekking Guide онлайн

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Monte Bove Nord, GAS Stage 1

Part of Italy’s backbone, the Monti Sibillini are a narrow line of ridges that act as the watershed between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas. Straddling the regions of Umbria to the west and Marche to the east they run north–south for almost 40km. Limestone is the main constituent, formed 200 million years ago in a shallow sea and forced skywards. Glaciers later left recognisable traces such as cirques and U-shaped troughs. The stark bareness of these mountains is striking, as few trees exceed the 1500m level.

Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini sign

However, much of this bareness is caused by man as dense forests of beech once cloaked the uplands. These were dramatically cut back over time to create pasture for the armies of sheep – once totalling 400,000 – key to the region’s economy.

A number of important rivers run through the range: the Nera has its source in the heart of the Sibillini and flows out through Umbria, whereas the eastern flanks give rise to the Aso, Tenna, Ambro and Fiastrone which head down to the Adriatic coast.