The trails leading to the Alpine pastures offer a view overlooking breath-taking natural environments characterized by thriving fir woods populated by roe deer, yews, foxes, and chaffinches. Above Rigolato, the "banned wood" of Gracco can be easily distinguished in all seasons from the surrounding spruce forests. Covered by a thick beech wood, it is a rare example of a homogeneous wooden area protecting inhabited areas.
The Coglians, Pal Piccolo, Freikofel and Pal Grande peaks surround the Upper But valley and, observing their ruggedness, we can understand, with our senses and feelings, the tragedy of the Great War in the trenches. The large grazing terraces holding the local Alpine farms present, in contrast, a sweet view ornamented by the great yellow gentian, the arnica, the bluebottle, and studded by several blueberries.
Climbing along the valley after a shower or at the end of a long rainy period, you can see countless waterfalls cascading from the crags of the steep slopes. Some of them are breath-taking, because of their majesty and of the height of the fall. Waterfalls and gorges can be admired along the road ending just short of crossing into Austria, alternating with grassy plains and isolated peaks that render the landscape particularly charming.
The Alpine farms located at the feet of the Carnic Ridge, between the passes of Cason di Lanza and Pramollo host a number of peculiar damp environments, such as high-altitude peat bogs. It's the blooming of cotton grass, curious marsh plants with cottony crowns that characterizes the presence of these environments found in the low parts of Alpine meadows where hares jump, ermines run and hawks and eagles wheel in the sky.
The mountain groups of the Julian Alps are certainly among the most spectacular landscapes in our region: this area combines abundant rainfalls and a lack of water linked to widespread high-altitude karst features. The three parallel main valleys accommodate Alpine dairy farms on their tops – overlooked by jagged mountain peaks – where the ibex, re-introduced in the late 70's after its total extinction, is the undisputed king.
The Alpine farms of this area are interconnected by high-altitude roads that allow motorists to admire both the steep slopes of the Monte Bivera southward, and the jagged peaks of the Pesarine Dolomites northward. The richness of open areas favours the presence of the deer and of other ungulates, in addition to the opportunity to enjoy close views of birds of prey sailing astride the peaks.
The valley where the springs of the longest river of our region are located, has slopes with different characteristics, indeed cattle pastures are mainly found on its northern side. Dairy farms are in tourist areas, such as Monte Varmost and the Pura pass. The view that these locations afford is one of the most breath-taking, since these Alpine farms look onto the Friulian and Belluno Dolomites.
The geological diversity of the Monte Arvenis, which is set within the geological context of Monte Zoncolan, is mirrored by evocative plant variations, including dwarf mountain pines growing side by side with alders and overlooking the pastures. The shortage of water forced in the past Alpine farmers to build a number of pasture pools that still guarantee grazing – but also wild – animals their water supply.
The farms of this area are located on the mountains overlooking the Tagliamento river, some at the feet of Monte Plauris, others at the feet of Monte Verzegnis, of Monte Cuar or of Monte Cuarnan, further south. The vicinity to the Cornino repopulation centre make these pastures a place often frequented by griffons that sail around these majestic peaks overlooking the plains of Friuli.
The Alpine farms of this area are grouped into two different geographic contexts: the Cansiglio-Cavallo hogback that marks the border between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the valley floors of Friulian Dolomites. The former is characterized by water shortage, since that is a rainy but karstic territory, while the latter has pebbly soils which were formed by the alluvial deposits of torrents. In the pastures of the hogback you can often find the edelweiss, despite the low altitude.
