The Dolomite Glow, called “Enrosadira” in Ladin, bathes the mountains in an enchanting light when the weather is fine
In the evening, when the sun sets in the Dolomites, the mountains are illuminated in the most beautiful shades of orange, red and pink. Locally, the phenomenon is called "Enrosadira", a term that comes from the Ladin "rosadüra" or "enrosadöra", meaning "to turn pink".
Those who want to enter the world of legends will find a very special meaning for it, especially in the Catinaccio-Latemar area: According to legend, it is the flowers from King Laurin's Rose Garden that shine in the evening sun and conjure up the colours. When King Laurin was captured in his rose garden, he cursed the roses for betraying his movements to his enemies. They should no longer be visible at any time of the day or night. But he forgot the twilight in which they still shine.
Scientifically speaking, two effects come together in the alpine glow: When the sun is low in the sky, part of the blue light is scattered in other directions due to the long way through the earth's atmosphere. The remaining sunlight becomes reddish. Added to this is the indirect lighting above the shadow line, where the light falls with a flat angle on the landscape at the back of the viewer. It is reflected and creates a bright stripe. But the result is always the same: magical moments at sunset in South Tyrol's mountains.
