L’ander dla nëi
The icy art of Alta Badia: the Snow Cave
A masterpiece sculpted by Mother Nature at La Crusc
Alta Badia is a veritable treasure chest that also contains masterpieces sculpted by Mother Nature – from the most majestic, shaped over millennia, to the most fragile and ephemeral, that survive in their cyclical nature. One of these is the Grotta della Neve (Snow Cave) at the foot of the Cima Dieci, a natural formation of icy, snow-white beauty, where you can glance into the inner recesses of a cavern whose majestically undulating walls have been patiently modelled, season after season.
Are you on an outing with the whole family? The Snow Cave is a must-see that can be reached by an easy walk directly from the Sanctuary.
A true phenomenon!
The Snow Cave at La Crusc: a wonder of science
During particularly harsh winters, snow can accumulate and compact into a blanket of ice up to several metres thick in places that are less exposed to the sun. Deposits of debris and soil can subsequently form an insulating layer on the surface that prevents the ice from melting. Meltwater running down from the Cima Dieci in spring then makes its way under the ice mass, slowly forming a cavity that increases in size owing to an atmospheric phenomenon known as the “reverse chimney effect”: in summer, cold air is deposited at the bottom, creating an air current; the hot summer air is sucked into the upper part, melting the cavern from the inside and finally flowing downwards once it has cooled. A masterpiece of nature that is reborn each summer. A true curiosity!
A fragile beauty: the danger of collapse means that no access to the cave is permitted... it is however possible to peek inside from the entrance.
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