The Marmolada (Italian Marmolada, Ladin Marmoleda, the name is said to derive from the similarity of the rock with marble) is the highest mountain in the Dolomites and part of the Marmolada group. The Marmolada is a westerly ridge extending from the Punta Penia (3343 m slm) over the Punta Rocca (3309 m slm) and the Punta Ombretta (3230 m slm) to Pizzo Serauta (3035 m slm) and the Punta Serauta (3069 m slm) leads. This ridge breaks to the south in a closed, two kilometers wide and up to 800 meters high steep wall in Ombrettatal from. On the north side to Passo Fedaia comparatively gently sloping flank carries the only larger glacier of the Dolomites (Ghiacciaio della Marmolada).
On the Marmolada also leads a cable car; renewed in the years 2004 and 2005, it leads to Punta Rocca (3,265 m) in three stages from Malga Ciapela (1467 m s.l.m.) via the Banc / Coston d'Antermoia (2,350 m) and Serauta (2,950 m) stations. The mountain war museum at 2950 m above sea level, which is integrated into the Serauta cable car station, is probably the highest museum in Europe. From the mountain station of Punta Rocca you can easily reach the small rock sanctuary of Madonna della Neve, which Pope John Paul II personally consecrated during a visit.
One of the longest ski runs in the Alps, the Bellunese, leads from Punta Rocca over the Passo Fedaia to Malga Ciapela at a height difference of almost 1,900 m and 12 km.
Until around 2000, summer skiing was also held on the Marmolada glacier with a few ski lifts; this offer was then less frequently and then completely removed in 2005 under pressure from environmental protection associations. In addition, until 2008 there was another lift chain from the pass of the Fedaiapasse to Punta Serauta, but then in 2008 the ski lift was shut down, and in 2012 the valley station of the chairlift on the pass was destroyed by fire and since then not rebuilt. The resulting greatly reduced capacity and the large rush lead to regular waiting time of one hour and more at the valley station of the now only cable car on the Marmolada in Malga Ciapela.
(c) Wikipedia 2018