Editing South Tyrol (section)

=== Mountains ===
[[File:Drei zinnen gross.jpg|thumb|[[Drei Zinnen]]-[[Tre Cime di Lavaredo]] in the [[Sexten]] Dolomites bordering the province of Belluno|300x300px]]
According to the Alpine Association, South Tyrol is home to 13 mountain groups of the Eastern Alps, of which only the Sarntal Alps are entirely within national borders. The remaining twelve are (clockwise, starting from the west): Sesvenna Group, Ötztal Alps, Stubai Alps, Zillertal Alps, Venediger Group, Rieserferner Group, Villgratner Mountains, Carnic Alps, Dolomites, Fleimstal Alps, Nonsberg Group and Ortler Alps. Of particular note are the Dolomites, parts of which were recognized by [[UNESCO]] in 2009 as a "Dolomite World Heritage Site".

Although some isolated massifs approach {{convert|4000|m|ft}} and show strong [[glaciation]] (especially in the Ortler Alps and on the main ridge of the Alps), South Tyrol is by far dominated by mountains with altitudes of between {{convert|2000|and|3000|m|ft}}. Among the multitude of peaks, the [[Dolomites]] are the highest in the Alps. Among the large number of peaks, three stand out for their alpine or cultural importance: the [[Ortler]] ({{convert|3905|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}) as the highest mountain in South Tyrol, the [[Schlern]] ({{convert|2563|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}) as the country's "landmark" and the [[Tre Cime di Lavaredo|Drei Zinnen]] ({{convert|2999|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}) as the center of alpine climbing. Other well-known mountains are the [[Königspitze]] ({{convert|3851|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the [[Weißkugel]] ({{convert|3739|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the [[Similaun]] ({{convert|3599|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the [[Hochwilde]] ({{convert|3480|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Sarner Weißhorn ({{convert|2705|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Hochfeiler ({{convert|3509|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Dreiherrnspitze ({{convert|3499|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Hochgall ({{convert|3436|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Peitlerkofel ({{convert|2875|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}), the Langkofel ({{convert|3181|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}) and the Rosengartenspitze ({{convert|2981|m|ft|0|disp=comma}}).

The extensive mountain [[landscapes]], about 34% of the total area of South Tyrol, are alpine pastures (including the {{convert|57|km2|sqmi}} of the great Alpe di Siusi). Along the main valleys, the mountain ranges descend in many places to valley bottoms over gently terraced landscapes, which are geological remains of former [[valley]] systems; situated between inhospitable high mountains and formerly boggy or deeply incised valley bottoms, these areas known as the "Mittelgebirge" (including, for example, the Schlern area) are of particular importance in terms of settlement [[history]].<ref>Ernst Steinicke, Giuliana Andreotti: ''Das Pustertal. Geographische Profile im Raum von Innichen und Bruneck.'' In: Ernst Steinicke (Hrsg.): ''Europaregion Tirol, Südtirol, Trentino. Band 3: Spezialexkursionen in Südtirol.'' Institut für Geographie der Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck 2003, {{ISBN|3-901182-35-7}}, S. 14.</ref>