Puez-Odle Nature Park

The Puez-Odle Nature Park, founded in 1978, comprises an area of 10,722 hectares. In the west it is bounded by the Valle Isarco valley (Val di Funes), in the north by the Val Pusteria valley, in the east by the Val Badia valley (San Martino in Badia) and in the south by the Val Gardena valley (Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena). Its average altitude is approx. 2,500 m a.s.l.

Its geological structures are characteristic: the Puez-Odle Nature Park has all the rock types and sedimentary layers typical of the Dolomites. The most important peaks of the protected area are Mt. Furchetta, Mt. Sass Rigais, Mt. Sass de Putia, Mt. Sassongher and the Pizes de Cir peaks.

The local flora and fauna are very interesting: the pasque flower, the achillea, the edelweiss, the Alpine butterbur and the Alpine poppy grow here. Also the spruce plantations in the Putia Forest and the larch meadows in the "Halsl" area are remarkable. Furthermore, the nature park represents the habitat for the chamois and the marmot, the Eurasian eagle-owl and the wood grouse as well as the rock ptarmigan and the golden eagle.

Like in all nature parks, also in the Puez-Odle Nature Park the protection of nature is of utmost importance. Therefore you should observe certain rules, for example no wheelers are permitted and picking flowers, mushrooms, fossils and minerals is strictly forbidden. Only in this way its ecosystem can be protected!