The results of the Cnr surveys confirm the excellence of the Dolomites. Minella: “A botanical park is about to open”
FALCADE. The air of the Dolomites like that of the Arctic Circle? That is, very pure. Yes, but you have to go up to 2500 meters. It is in fact on Col Margherita, above Falcade, at an altitude of 2520, that the CNR has a station that measures the quality of the atmosphere, ascertaining that the ozone values are slightly lower than those of Ny Ålesund (Svalbard Islands, Norway). northernmost inhabited country in the world, measured by the instruments of the Zeppelin station. Cnr researchers work on both sides and it is precisely by comparing the results of their surveys that they have certified how really good the Dolomite air at the highest altitudes is.
It will be said, however, you have to climb the Col Margherita, the Marmolada, the Piz Boe, the Tofane, the Antelao, the Torrani sul Civetta refuge to breathe it. Unfortunately, not so much at the foot of the Tre Cime, due to the hundreds of cars that reach the same altitude (approximately) at the Auronzo refuge. Col Margherita is in fact the lung of the San Pellegrino Ski Area, one of the most fascinating balconies in the Alps.
Breathtaking panorama (ranging from the south faces of the Marmolada, Cima Uomo and the crests of Costabella to the majesty of the Focobon, Pelmo, Civetta groups up to the Pale di San Martino), great winter slopes, a poignant place of memory of summer (great war) and lunar environment in summer, due to its geological conformation.
Coming to the data of the CNR Observatories, the northernmost inhabited lands of the planet, in the Svalbard archipelago, record ozone values equal to 100 µg m-3 while on the Col Margherita the maximum value over 8 hours is 99. 8 µg m -3 PM10 levels are also similar: the summer levels on Col Margherita (6 ± 2 µg m-3) are comparable to those of Svalbard, (between 1-15 µg m-3) as well as at the Jungfraujoch station in the western Swiss Alps ( at 3580 ml recorded levels are equal to 6 ± 3 g m-3) and Norway (in July and August 5-7 µg m-3).
They are data that deserve to be studied, also for the policies that may derive from them. Just think of the car access to the passes, which is so much discussed. And here it is that the Col Margherita will soon be transformed into a scientific laboratory. Word of Renzo Minella, director of the San Pellegrino Ski Area. «Col Margherita is a spearhead of our Alpine arc», Minella emphasizes. “Beyond the impressive panorama it offers, high-level scientific activities have been condensed here, thanks to the CNR but also to the creation of the Col Margherita Park, a theme park, designed and built in collaboration with the Muse science museum of Trento , which is divided into an easy path that tells the history and formation of the Dolomites. Today, ”adds Minella,“ a botanical park is also under construction and a series of new bike trails will be ready at the end of June, making the mountain more inaccessible for everyone, from the most experienced cyclists to families ”.
Ny Alesund and Col Margherita, two panoramas that are unrivaled in the world, one overlooking the Greenland Sea, the other on some of the most impressive Dolomite peaks; midnight sun, northern lights, perennial glaciers and enchanting fjords for the northern part of the world, peaks, rock walls and sunny paths for Col Margherita. By the way, for e-bike lovers, InAlto – the new refuge located next to the top station of the cable car – offers two charging columns. Interesting, and reachable with a very short walk, the Col Margherita Park which rises right next to the CNR control unit: an interactive rudder allows you to recognize the profiles of the Dolomite peaks that stand out all around.