Tofane

Infobox Mountain
Name = Tofane
Photo = Tofana.jpg
Photo size = 250px
Caption = Tofana di Dentro, Tofana di Mezzo and Tofana di Rozes
Elevation = 3244 m (Tofana di Mezzo)
Location = Belluno, Italy
Range = Dolomites
Type =
First ascent = 29 August 1863 Paul Grohmann, Francesco Lacedelli
Coordinates = coord|46|32|N|12|03|E|type:mountain_region:IT|display=inline,title

Tofane is a mountain group in the Italian Dolomites, west of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the province of Belluno, Veneto, northern Italy. Most of the Tofane lies within "Parco naturale delle Dolomiti d'Ampezzo", a nature park.

Peaks

The highest peaks of the Tofane group are "Tofana di Mezzo" (3,244 m), "Tofana di Dentro" (3,238), and "Tofana di Rozes" (3,225 m). Tofana di Mezzo is the third highest peak in the Dolomites, after Marmolada (3,343 m) and Antelao (3,262 m). All the three highest peaks were first conquered by Paul Grohmann along with local mountain guides, in 1863 (di Mezzo), 1864 (di Rozes) and 1865 (di Dentro).cite book | last= Goedeke |first= Richard |coauthors= Hans Kammerer | title= 3000er der Dolomiten|publisher= Tappeiner Verlag | location= |language= German |year=1993 | isbn= 88-7076-155-3 | pages=240pp] [http://www.abcdolomiti.com/storiaalpinistica.htm La Conquista delle vette dolomitiche] – "abcdolimiti.com" (Retrieved on 19 September 2008) it icon] [http://www1.dolomiti-altevie.it/tedesco/altaVia/StoriaAlpinistica.htm Allgemeine Informationen über die Geschichte der örtlichen Alpinistik mit besonderem Bezug auf die historischen Aufstiege und auf die "ersten Wege"] – "dolomito.altevio.it" (Retrieved on 19 September 2008) de icon]

Geology

The Dolomites were formed during the Cretaceous Period, approximately 60 million years ago, due to the collision of the African and European continents. The Tofane is largely formed from the Upper Triassic rock Dolomia principale. The stratas are perceptibly folded, and the mountains are finally formed by wind, rain, glaciers and rivers.

Tourism

Access

A cable lift system ("Freccio nel Cielo", "Arrow in the sky") goes from Cortina almost to the top of Tofane di Mezzo. There is only a short walk from the top cable car to the summit. Alternatively the via ferratas "VF Punta Anna" and "VF Gianna Aglio" can be used to reach Tofane di Mezzo.

Cabins (rifugi)

Some of the cabins in the Tofane are the "Rifugio Angelo Dibona" (2.083 m), the "Rifugio Giussani" (2.580 m), the "Rifugio Duca d'Aosta" (2.098 m), and the "Rifugio Pomedes" (2.303 m).

Via ferratas

The via ferratas of Tofane are "VF Punta Anna" and "VF Gianna Aglio" on Tofana di Mezzo, "VF Lamon" and "VF Formenton" on Tofana di Dentro, and "VF Giovanni Lipella" on Tofana di Rozes, where there also are tunnel systems from World War I.

History

During the First World War the Tofane was a battlefield for clashes between the Italian and Austrian forces. The front lines went through the mountains.

References

* "Via ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Volume 1 [North, central and east] " by John Smith and Graham Fletcher. Published in 2002 by Cicerone, UK. ISBN 1-85284-362-4.
* "Cortina d'Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane". 1:25,000, Carta Topografica. Casa Editrice Tobacco.