Maiella
| Maiella | |
|---|---|
| Monte Amaro | |
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,795 m (9,170 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,812 m (5,945 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 42°05′13″N14°05′15″E/ 42.08694°N 14.08750°E[1] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Amaro Italy | |
| Location | Abruzzo,Italy |
| Parent range | Apennine Mountains |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1873 |
TheMaiella(orMajella) is a massif in theCentral Apennines,inAbruzzo,centralItaly.
Geography
[edit]
The mountain is located at the boundary between the provinces ofChieti,PescaraandL'Aquila.
The highest peak isMonte Amaroat 2,793 m, the second-highest of the entire Apennine range. The massif is at the centre of theMaiella National Park.
The Maiella is formed by a compactlimestonemassif, on which summit are the highest peaks in the group: Monte Amaro 2,793 m, Monte Acquaviva 2,737 m, Monte Focalone 2,676 m, Monte Rotondo 2,656 m, Monte Macellaro 2,646 m, Pesco Falcone 2,546 m, Cima delle Murelle 2,598 m. A further peak is the Blockhaus (2,145m), which is sometimes used as the finish of a stage of theGiro d'Italiacycling race.
Vast plateaus are present up to 2,500 m. The slopes are characterized by steep valleys and gorges, carved out by rivers such as theOrfento,theForoand others.
Nearby are theMonte Morrone,Monte PorraraandMonti Pizzigroups. The Maiella includes an iced waterfall, known asIl Principiante,located at 1,600 metres and having a height of 25 metres.
History
[edit]The massif was the site of the1706 Abruzzo earthquake,which measured 6.8 Mw . It devastated many towns in Abruzzo.[2]
Scientific research
[edit]The area of the Montagna della Maiella has been subject to a major international geoscientific research Project,TaskForceMajella,from 1998 up to 2005. Along the northern slope of the mountain for thousands of years, hydrocarbon extraction has occurred from spontaneous seepages and shallow wells.[3]
Cycling
[edit]The Maiella, particularly the Blockhaus peak, is a popular ride for amateur cyclists and is also sometimes used for a stage of the Giro d'Italia. The first use by the race was in 1967, whenEddy Merckxwon the stage.[4]Merckx subsequently went on to establish acycle manufacturing companyand named one of his cycles after the Blockhaus. Subsequent Blockhaus stage victors wereFranco Bitossi(1968),José Manuel Fuente(1972),Moreno Argentin(1984),Ivan Basso(2006),Franco Pellizotti(2009, subsequently disqualified), andNairo Quintana(2017[5]). The most recent inclusion of the Blockhaus on the Giro d'Italia was on 15 May 2022, when the stage was won by the Australian riderJai Hindley.[6]
The Blockhaus climb will be used for the first time at theGiro d'Italia Womenin the2024edition of the race.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abc"Europe Ultra-Prominences".Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
- ^Romano, M. A.; de Nardis, R.; Garbin, M.; Peruzza, L.; Priolo, E.; Lavecchia, G.; Romanelli, M. (2013)."Temporary seismic monitoring of the Sulmona area (Abruzzo, Italy): quality study of microearthquake locations"(PDF).Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.1:2353–2395.doi:10.5194/nhessd-1-2353-2013.
- ^van Dijk, J.P. (2019); The 7000 Years Long Journey of the Majella Oil Men - The Fascinating Story of Central Italian Hydrocarbon Exploitation and Earth Sciences in the Val Pescara and the Montagna della Majella. 282 pp.ISBN978-1077215139ASIN1077215134https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334290729_The_7000_Years_Long_Journey_of_the_Majella_Oil_Men_-_The_Fascinating_Story_of_Central_Italian_Hydrocarbon_Exploitation_and_Earth_Sciences_in_the_Val_Pescara_and_the_Montagna_della_Majella
- ^"1967 Giro d'Italia".BikeRaceInfo.McGann Publishing.Retrieved15 May2017.
- ^McVeigh, Niall (14 May 2017)."Geraint Thomas's Giro d'Italia hopes hit by crash as Nairo Quintana takes control".The Guardian.Retrieved15 May2017.
- ^"Patience wins as Jai Hindley takes victory on the Blockhaus - CyclingTips".15 May 2022.
- ^Farrand, Stephen (2023-12-12)."Giro d'Italia Women 2024 route: Blockhaus mountain finish to decide eight-day race".cyclingnews.com.Retrieved2024-01-31.
External links
[edit]
Media related toMaiellaat Wikimedia Commons
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