Peralba (''Hochweißstein'' in German) is a mountain of the Carnic Alps in

Veneto Veneto (, ; vec, Vèneto ) or Venetia is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about five million, ranking fourth in Italy. The region's capital is Venice while the biggest city is Verona. Veneto was part of the Roman Empire unt ...

, northeastern Italy, although its summit is only a few hundred metres from the

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

n border. It has a height of 2,694 m making it the second highest mountain of the Carnics, after

Coglians Monte Coglians ( Friulian: ''Coliàns''; german: Hohe Warte) is the highest mountain of the Carnic Alps, on the border between Italy (province of Udine) and Austria (Carinthia), west of the Monte Croce Carnico pass ( Plöcken Pass). With its el ...

(in Italy). It lies on the main chain of the range, between the Austrian Lesachtal Valley in the north and the Italian Piave Valley in the south. The mountain resembles a huge cubic block of the stone, with a large summit

plateau In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...

, and dominates the view from miles around.

World War I

The mountain was the sight of fierce fighting as part of the Italian Front. It was a strategically important peak due to its height and prominence over the surrounding area, and its summit plateau where fortifications could be built. Even today there are remnants from the Great War on the peak, such as caves and a fort.

References

{{Authority control Mountains of the Alps Mountains of Veneto Carnic Alps