Sibillini Mounts

The Monti Sibillini are a mountain group in Italy, part of the central Apennines. Situated between eastern Umbria and the Marche, they are mostly composed of limestone rocks, formed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic (100 to 50 millions years ago) from the bottoms of extinct hot sea which emerged 20 millions years ago. Most of the peaks are over 2,000 m; the highest altitude is reached at the Monte Vettore, with 2,476 m.

Since 1993 the area is part of the Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini (Sibillini Mounts National Park).

The current morphology, largely dominated by "U"-shaped valleys and glacial depressions, is due to the actions of glaciers in the Quaternary era. Also Karst topography areas are present.

Wildlife and vegetation

*crested porcupine
*eurasian eagle owl
*golden eagle
*peregrine falcon
*roe deer
*vipera
*wildcat
*wolf

The small tarn lake of Pilato, within a deep u-shaped valley below Monte Vettore, is home to a crustacean endemic of this location, the "Chirocephalus marchesonii".

The area contains stands of beech scattered amongst open subalpine grasslands and meadows maintained by the grazing of sheep.

ee also

*Apennines
*Geography of Italy

ources

*cite book|first=Bernardino|last=Gentili|chapter=Note di Geomorfologia del Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini|title=Collana dei Quaderni scientifico-divulgativi del Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini|publisher=Aniballi Grafiche|city=Ancona|month=April|year=2002