 the brenta group or brenta dolomites () is a mountain range, and a subrange of the rhaetian alps in the southern limestone alps mountain group. they are located in the province of trentino, in northeastern italy. it is the only dolomitic group west of river adige. therefore, geographically, they have not always been considered a part of the dolomites mountain ranges. geologically, however, they definitely arefranco de battaglia e luciano marisaldi, enciclopedia delle dolomiti, zanichelli editore, bologna 2000, isbn 978-88-08-09125-3 - and therefore sometimes called the "western dolomites". as part of the dolomites, the brenta groupas "component site 9." has been officially recognized as unesco world heritage siteunesco decision 33com 8b.6 - natural properties - properties deferred or referred back by previous sessions of the world heritage committee - the dolomites (italy), appendix 1.2, component site 9 under the world heritage convention.right|unesco world heritage site ==geology and glaciology== geologically, the brenta group is very different from the granite-formed neighboring mountain groups like ortles and adamello/presanella. the main peaks are formed of hard compact dolomite, while the peripheral subgroups often are made up of more calcareous dolomite or limestone. the hard dolomite (dolomia principale) was originally formed during the mesozoic era, under the surface of the shallow tethys ocean, some 200 million years ago. the hard compact dolomite with a high magnesium content was formed during the upper triassic period. the softer, more calcareous material was deposited later, in the late triassic and early jurassic period. the difference is clearly noticeable for the climber who gets a much more compact and reliable rock on the peaks of the central part of the brenta group than in the peripheral subgroups. eventually, these layers were pushed upwards by the tectonic activity that led to the formation of the alps during the eocene, starting some 66 million years ago and leading to the formation of folds and thrust faults. subsequent erosion carved out the dolomitic landscape with its steep vertical pinnacles, as we know it now
Geoparks_in_Italy Global_Geoparks_Network_members Mountain_ranges_of_Trentino Mountain_ranges_of_the_Alps Southern_Limestone_Alps World_Heritage_Sites