Altopiano delle Rocche, Mountain plateau in Ovindoli, Italy.
Altopiano delle Rocche is a high plateau in the Apennines that stretches between several mountain ranges at an elevation of 1200 to 1400 meters. The landscape features rolling meadows, limestone formations, and numerous natural caves that run beneath the plateau.
The plateau formed through geological processes during the Mesozoic era and was later shaped by glacier movement into its current form. These ancient ice ages left traces in the landscape and created the underground water systems that exist today.
The name comes from the rocky outcrops that dominate the landscape and define the area's character. Visitors can see traditional pastoral practices and grazing lands that have shaped daily life here for generations.
The plateau is easily reached from the town of Ovindoli and offers routes for different activity levels, from gentle walks to challenging mountain hikes. Visitors should bring weather-appropriate clothing as conditions at this altitude can change rapidly.
The Terranera sinkhole gathers water from across the plateau surface and channels it through hidden underground passages to the Stiffe Caves. This underground water system reveals how the plateau's geology controls life beneath the surface.
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