The Valle d'Aosta is the smallest region in the Italian Republic and is also the most thinly populated, with the lowest population density. It is the only region without the territorial and administrative body known as the Province. The Natural Environment Entirely mountainous, Valle d'Aosta extends across the mountains and crests of the Graian and Pennine Alps. Only Mount Rosa, on the south Italian side, is less prone to glaciation, due to strong irradiation. There are many small alpine lakes.
Precipitations are abundant in autumn and winter, providing good snow for the ski resorts.
The vegetation is typical of mountainous areas. The alpine flora consists of gentians, buttercups, alpine bellflower, mountain vanilla, anemones and edelweiss. The fauna is also typical of mountain areas. Approximately one sixth of the regional territory is the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, the first Italian national park, established in 1922 with a personal donation by king Vittorio Emanuele III, who gave his own hunting reserve to the State. The shape of the territory strongly conditions the population distribution, with a concentration along the valley floor, facilitated by environmental conditions more favourable for productive activities.