An ice- and snow-covered world throbbing with life
Everything you need to know on the Dolomites in winter
When you see the Dolomites from afar, dazzling white and with the snow-capped peaks, you realise that you are seeing a marvel of nature. Imposing. Elegant. Sublime. It is when you draw closer and are embraced by them that you become aware that the Dolomites conceal a world which is pulsating with life, but this is hidden by snow.
White-coated animals that are adept at camouflage, frost-defying flowers and an entire ecosystem that lives under the surface of the frozen lakes. We have collected some of the questions you may have asked yourself too, when you were enraptured by the sight of the white-cloaked “Monti Pallidi” (“Pale Mountains”).
What animals can I meet in the Dolomites in winter?
Not all animals hibernate in winter. Thus, near the frozen lakes and in the snow-blanketed woods, you can have interesting encounters. Be careful though because these small animals in winter become snow-white and therefore they cannot be spotted easily.
4 things you may not know about snow
Why is snow white? Are there two identical snowflakes? How does snow dampen noise? Here you will find the answers to some of the questions on one of the most exciting atmospheric phenomena, which makes the Dolomites so special in winter.
Why do lakes freeze up?
The easiest answer is: because it is cold! And it is actually the correct answer. However, perhaps you don’t fully understand the phenomenon whereby the surface of lakes freeze over, nor why it is so important for the survival of plants and fish.
Are there flowers in winter in the Dolomites?
The answer is obviously yes… otherwise we would not have gone into detail on this topic. But do you know what type of flowers you can find in the Dolomites when snow and frost arrive? And would you be able to recognise them? It will obviously be much easier to do so after reading our description.
Museums, visitor centres, places of interest
Winter is the best period for improving your knowledge on rocks, animals, plants and centuries-old traditions in the Dolomites. There is a wide variety of things to see, ranging from geological museums to park visitor centres. We would like to recommend some of them.
The sounds of the woods in winter
Now close your eyes and focus your attention only on what you hear. What sounds will you hear in the Dolomites in winter? Certainly, the chirping of a snowfinch, or the roaring of a stream that has not frozen over yet and, in the distance, the thudding sound of a hatchet used by a woodcutter working in the area. Shhh… remain silent and listen!
