Monte Sole in the Laces-Val Martello Holiday Area

Enclosed between the Ortler Massiv and the Ötztal Alps, lies Val Venosta, with the driest climate in the Alps. With only 500 mm of annual rainfall (highly unusual in this Central Alpine region), the vegetation located on the sunny side of Monte Sole, has to survive in harsh conditions. The resource-poor “Vinschger Leiten” refers to land that was previously cleared and shielded from the elements, on the slopes of Monte Sole.

The special microclimate on the Monte Sole is ideal for species that survive in dry soil conditions, such as fields of grass, scrub oaks and dwarf shrubs. These lands possess good water absorption properties but have difficulty in retaining water. Thus, Monte Sole is home to an unusual variety of Alpine flora and fauna that have been able to adapt to wide fluctuations in temperatures and to the high soil temperatures in summer.