Читать книгу The Karnischer Hohenweg. A 1-2 week trek on the Carnic Peace Trail: Austria and Italy онлайн

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The Karnischer Höhenweg follows the World War I front line, and reminders of the conflict that defined both Italy and Austria are everywhere. Although the fighting took place 100 years ago, the front line – marked out by trenches, dugouts and barbed wire – is still a distinct feature.

Perhaps less obvious is that the Carnic Alps are also the location for another important dividing line, the Periadriatic geological seam, which runs parallel to the range in the valley immediately to its north. This division between the African and European tectonic plates, as Africa continues its drive northwards, is key to understanding the origins of the Alps.

These dividing lines turn what would otherwise be just another wonderful stretch of alpine walking into something really special. One minute you’re walking through classic limestone scenery (technically the Carnic Alps are in the Southern Limestone Alps) and the next you’re among ancient schist and granite, in scenery more commonly found in the central core of the Alps. One minute you’re in Austria and the next you’re in Italy, and despite open borders, the cultures, like the geology, are very different.