The Dolomites mountain range is located in northeastern Italy, where it forms part of the Southern Limestone Alps. The range spans parts of Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
The Dolomites are famous for pale, sharply sculpted cliffs and towers formed from dolomite-rich carbonate rock. Their highest peak is Marmolada, which reaches 3,343 meters. The range extends roughly from the Adige River in the west to the Piave Valley in the east.
The mountains take their name from dolomite, the mineral first described by the French mineralogist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu in the late 18th century. Their Italian name is Dolomiti, while the historic nickname “Pale Mountains” reflects the light color of the rock.
The Dolomites are known for hiking, climbing, skiing, and via ferrata routes. UNESCO designated the Dolomites a World Heritage Site in 2009 because of their exceptional scenery and geological importance.