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The 'Tre Cime di Lavaredo' (Italian for "three peaks of Lavaredo") or 'Drei Zinnen' (German for "three battlements") are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy. They are probably one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps.
They are built of well-layered dolostones of the Dolomia Principale formation, Carnian to Rhaetian in age, as many other groups in the Dolomites (e.g., the Tofane, the Pelmo or the Five towers).
Until 1919 the peaks formed part of the border between Italy and Austria. They still lie on the border between the Italian provinces of Belluno and Bolzano-Bozen. The largest of the peaks has an elevation of . It stands between the small peak, of elevation , and the western peak, of elevation .

Contents

First ascents

Tourism

References

First ascents

The first ascent of the large peak was on August 21, 1869 by Paul Grohmann with guides Franz Innerkofler and Peter Salcher. The western peak was first ascended exactly ten years later, on August 21, 1879, by Michel Innerkofler with tourist G. Ploner. The small peak, the last to be climbed, was ascended on July 25, 1881 by Michel and Hans Innerkofler. The routes of these three first ascents are still the normal ascent routes; the small peak's route is the most difficult of the three.
Emilio Comici was the first to climb the north face of the large peak in 1933, assisted by two rope handlers, after an ascent time of 3 days and 2 nights. This partly overhanging northern face is still considered by climbers to be one of the great north faces of the Alps.

Tourism

Numerous routes lead from the surrounding communities to and around the peaks. The most common route is from Monte Paterno to the alpine hut Auronzo at 2,333 m (7,654 ft), over Paterno Pass to the alpine hut Locatelli at 2,405 m (7,890 ft), and then to the peaks. There are a number of other routes as well.
Since the front line between Italy and Austria during World War I ran through these mountains, there are a number of fortifications and commemorative plaques in the area.
Nearby communities include Toblach, Sexten, and Pustertal.

References

★ Drei Zinnen, , Alexander, Huber, Bergverlag Rother, 2003, ISBN 3763375139

★ Die Kämpfe im Drei-Zinnen-Gebiet und am Kreuzberg bei Sexten 1915-1917, , Viktor, Schemfil, Universitätsverlag Wagner, 1984, ISBN 3703001704

★ Sextener Dolomiten, , Richard, Goedeke, (Alpenvereinsführer) Bergverlag Rother, 1988, ISBN 3-7633-1255-2