5-506: The Pollino (Italian: Massiccio del Pollino ) is a massif in the southern Apennines , on the border between Basilicata and Calabria , southern Italy , being the highest point of both regions. It became part of the Pollino National Park in 1992. The main peaks include Monte Pollino (2,248 m) and the massif's high point, Serra Dolcedorme (2,267 m), which overlooks the plain of Sibari . Formed from limestone,
10-416: A tectonic plate and is considered the fourth-largest driving force in geomorphology . The word "massif" originates from French (in which the word also means "massive"), where it is used to refer to a large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. The Face on Mars is an example of an extraterrestrial massif. Massifs may also form underwater, as with
15-424: A massif is frequently used to denote the main mass of an individual mountain. As a purely scientific term in geology , however, a "massif" is separately and more specifically defined as a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures . In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. A massif is a smaller structural unit than
20-655: The Pollino is the highest area in the range, and erosion of the limestone, especially on the Calabrian side, has created numerous grottoes , such as the Romito grottoes, in which Palaeolithic petroglyphs have been found. Canyons have also been carved into the limestone, such as the canyon created by the Raganello stream. The Pollino is home to a flourishing fauna and flora . Woods dominated by chestnut , beech and
25-499: The rare Bosnian pine , which is the park's symbol, cover especially the highest peaks; animal species include the Italian wolf , eagle owl , roe deer and the rare golden eagle . Massif A massif ( / m æ ˈ s iː f , ˈ m æ s ɪ f / ) is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range , containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central ). In mountaineering literature,
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