"Overall, the fossiliferous deposits of the Alpone valley constitute a natural site of universal importance. The serial site “Eocene Marine Biodiversity of the Alpone valley” consists of 39 fossil deposits located in the province of Verona, in north-east Italy. The Alpone valley, named after the watercourse descending it, covers an area of about 16,700 hectares with altitudes ranging from 30 to 925 meters above sea level. Its territory is characterized by extensive outcrops of volcanic rocks with gentle and undulating morphology, punctuated by soaring conical shapes locally known as “purges” (Purga di Bolca, Purga di Durlo) and by the remains of ancient volcanic “structures” (Monte Calvarina, Monte Crocetta, Monte Castello and Monte del Diavolo). The volcanic rocks contain a number of olistolites of a variety of sizes of marine sedimentary rocks, comprising abundant and significant fossil deposits mostly dating back to the Eocene (between 56 and 34 million years ago), a period characterized by important biological, climatic, environmental and geodynamic changes."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
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