The Dolomites are a fascinating group of mountains that lie on the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps. It consists of a number of majestic peaks out of which 18 rise to more than 1000 feet. The Marmolada is the highest of all, at a height of 3341.8 metres.
The first scientific study about the region was made by the 18th century French geologist Dieudonne Dolomieu. It is from him that the mountain range and its rock took their name. Geologically, the range is formed of light-coloured dolomitic limestones. As many as 41 glaciers are seen in the region. Most of the lower slopes of the mountain were once covered by thick forests, but today only patches of woodland remain.
The main peaks of the Dolomites were climbed in the 1860s by English mountaineers. However, the range has witnessed major disasters after that. In 1963, more than 2500 people died after a landslide occurred in the southern Dolomites. It caused the Vaiont Dam to overspill and flood the village of Longarone.