Which national park in Italy contains Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines?

Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park contains Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Apennines.

Corno Grande rises to 2,912 metres in the Gran Sasso massif of Abruzzo, central Italy. The mountain is inside the national park, which protects a large landscape across Abruzzo, Lazio and Marche. Its limestone peaks, high plateaus and deep valleys make it one of Italy’s most important mountain environments outside the Alps.

The park was established in 1991 and is named for two mountain groups: Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga. Corno Grande’s northern corrie contains the Calderone Glacier, one of Europe’s southernmost glaciers, although warming has dramatically reduced its size. The surrounding habitats support Apennine wolves, Marsican brown bears, chamois and golden eagles.

A frequent mix-up is to identify the mountain with a separate park named after it. The official protected area is Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park; Corno Grande is the summit within that park. Its first recorded ascent took place in 1573, led by Francesco De Marchi.