Punta Cristalliera, Mountain summit in Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy.
Punta Cristalliera is a 2,801-metre summit in the Cottian Alps, on the border between San Giorio di Susa and Roure. It lies on the watershed between the Val di Susa and the Val Chisone, near Monte Orsiera, and is made mainly of thick-layered serpentinite. The Colle Superiore di Malanotte separates it from Punta Malanotte to the northwest, while the ridge continues southeast toward Monte Rocciavrè.
The mountain formed through geological processes during Alpine formation millions of years ago and is part of a metaophiolitic rock complex. This ancient geological structure fundamentally shaped the region's composition.
The summit lies on the watershed between the Val di Susa and the Val Chisone, on the border between San Giorio di Susa and Roure, a few hundred metres from Bussolin. It stands within the Parco naturale Orsiera-Rocciavrè, not far from the higher Monte Orsiera. To its north-west the Colle Superiore di Malanotte separates it from the Punta Malanotte (2,735 m); to the south-west lie two small lakes, Lago Manica and Lago Laus.
The climb requires alpine hiking skills and solid mountain experience along with proper equipment for technical terrain. Summer months offer the best conditions for attempting the ascent safely.
Punta Cristalliera is built mainly of serpentinite, and the layers exposed on the mountain are unusually thick compared with the surrounding area. The rock belongs to the metaophiolite complex of the Cottian Alps, oceanic crust and mantle pushed up during Alpine mountain building.
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