Located at the easternmost end of the Alps, this mountainous region completely departs from the towering, cold, and rugged snow-covered peaks of the western section. The lithology is uniformly dominated by light-colored limestone, giving the mountains a translucent and porous texture, which stands in sharp contrast to the hard crystalline rock snow mountains of the northern section. The overall terrain gently transitions from high to low as one moves from north to south. The slopes become gradually more moderate, the mountains lower, and the gradients softer and more undulating. At their southern edge, the mountains seamlessly connect with the Po Plain without any fault barriers, making this area a low-mountain and hilly buffer zone that serves as a natural transition from the Alps to the Po Plain.

The Veneto Prealps form the main structural framework of this entire eastern mountain section. Rolling low hills spread across the eastern region, with the highest peak, Monte Cornudo, reaching 2,472 meters, the highest point in this eastern mountain sector.

The Vicenza Alps, an important southwestern sub-range of this region, are known for their rugged limestone peaks, whose rock textures closely resemble those of the Dolomites, earning them the nickname "Little Dolomites."

Throughout this mountain sector, elevations are relatively low, slopes are gentle, and there are no glaciers or high-altitude barren lands. The mountains are dotted with broadleaf forests, shrub meadows, and natural rock faces, creating a accessible ecological environment. Compared to the sharp and magnificent Dolomites to the south, the limestone peaks here are more delicate and gentle, possessing both the tranquility of the mountains and the aesthetic appeal of rock formations.

Image: Vicenza. Source: Veneto_Vicenza_LUC_4677&4825

This mountain range serves as both a gentle conclusion to the northern Alpine region and a natural transitional buffer zone between mountains, plains, and wetlands. The mountains intercept mountain streams, deposit fertile soil layers, and supply water and soil resources to the surrounding plains. At the foot of the mountains, villages are densely scattered, where pastoral fields blend with the mountain wilderness. These quiet and gentle eastern low mountains draw a peaceful and serene final stroke across the rugged and magnificent Alpine range.

Editor Ⅰ: Yuan Jiali

Editor Ⅱ: Bao Gang

Editor Ⅲ: Pan Kaiyue