La Cesta (mountain)

La Cesta
Ladin: Ra Zesta
Southeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation2,768 m (9,081 ft)[1][2]
Prominence193 m (633 ft)[1]
Parent peakPunta Nera[1]
Isolation1.07 km (0.66 mi)[3]
Coordinates46°31′36″N 12°12′31″E / 46.52679°N 12.208476°E / 46.52679; 12.208476[1]
Naming
EtymologyBasket
Geography
La Cesta
Location in Italy
La Cesta
La Cesta (Alps)
Interactive map of La Cesta
CountryItaly
ProvinceBelluno
Protected areaDolomites World Heritage Site
Parent rangeDolomites
Ampezzo Dolomites[1]
Topo mapTabacco 03 Cortina d’Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane
Geology
Rock ageTriassic
Rock typeDolomite

La Cesta is a mountain in the province of Belluno in northern Italy.

Description

La Cesta, or Ra Zesta in Ladin language, is a 2,768-meter-elevation (9,081-foot) summit in the Dolomites,[4] and as part of the Dolomites is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Set in the Veneto region, the peak is located five kilometers (3.1 miles) east-southeast of the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains into tributaries of the Piave. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 843 meters (2,766 feet) above Lake Sorapiss in one kilometer (0.6 mile), and 1,450 meters (4,757 feet) above Val d'Ansiei in three kilometers (1.86 miles). The mountain's toponym translates from Italian and Ladin as "The Basket." The nearest higher neighbor is Punta Nera, 1.72 kilometers (1.07 miles) to the southwest.[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, La Cesta is located in an alpine climate zone with long, cold winters, and short, mild summers.[5] Weather systems are forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. The months of June through September offer the most favorable weather for visiting or climbing in this area.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "La Cesta". peakvisor.com. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Franz Hauleitner, Dolomiten Höhenwege 1-3, Bergverlag Rother GmbH, 2022, ISBN 9783763331031, p. 206.
  3. ^ a b "La Cesta, Italy". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  4. ^ Ra Zesta (Cesta) - 2768 m, vienormali.it, Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Peel, M.C.; Finlayson, B.L. & McMahon, T.A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  6. ^ Best Time to Visit the Dolomites (+ Months to Avoid), Moonhoneytravel.com, Retrieved December 7, 2025.