The Importance of the Mountain

If you think about how the "developed world" lives, whose profile stands around cemented roads intoxicated by exhaust gases, flooded by flows of hasty and angry individuals with themselves, you can perceive how sharply this scenery separates from the magnificent purity that exudes from the greatest victory of nature: the mountain.

Tomorrow 11 December marks the 18th International Mountain Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002 for the World Year of Mountains in 2003. It is celebrated to raise awareness among the community and to make every human being aware that by paying attention to and respecting their ecosystems the benefit will be mutual

But the mountain is already a majestic celebration of grandeur: the mountains cover 27% of the land surface, influence the windy currents and rain, provide 60/80% of the world supply of fresh water, host a quarter of biological diversities including unique and threatened species, offer a vast agri-food livelihood, give shelter to many indigenous peoples who would otherwise disappear

2. the Rocky Mountains in North America

The formation of the mountain itself (orogeny) symbolizes the impetuosity of nature, because of the compressive geological forces that push the surface rocks upwards, creating a dominant landscape with respect to the surrounding; in some cases these processes take place in the seabed and continue by raising the rocky layers for thousands of meters until they emerge from the waters creating the islands, and they come to become colossi that merge with our skies.

Since the dawn of humanity the mountain has been the closest point of contact to the cosmos, and has always been at the center of religious symbolism for many peoples around the world. The various pyramidal buildings in Egypt and Central America, and the ziqqurats of Mesopotamia are nothing more than the artificial depiction of the classic volcanic reliefs or those formed for sediment storage.

For the ancients, the symbolic charge of the pyramids is extremely linked to that mythical place where water is generated in the form of rain and streams, from where the seeds that offer sustenance to individuals come from, where ancestral spirits and gods live.

3. Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, the sacred mountain of Australian aborigines

In pilgrimages to the sacred mountains one sought detachment from everyday life and the consequent spiritual elevation, rituals took place, one decided to build his own temples.In Sumerian mythology and Judaism the earthly paradise is placed on top of a mountain; for Hindus Mount Meru is the sacred mountain of mythology, it marks the center of the universe, and is represented in Cambodia by the temple Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world; according to Greek mythology in the tops of their mountains resided the Gods and the Muses; the ancient Norrens of Scandinavia they moved in group to the mountain woods to offer blood sacrifices to their gods Odin, Thor, Frey.

At a time when man is increasingly expanding urban centres and circumscribing their existence, it would be good to rediscover the not only symbolic but real importance that these natural formations hold. Thanks to their difficult practicability, the mountains are not subject to the devastating agricultural impact that strikes the plains, and their purity protects a unique fauna and plant ecosystem. At the same time, however, the rise in temperature is reducing the surface of glaciers, compromising water supply, and accelerating the formation of destructive fires.

Territorial laws and the various environmental institutions have the task of preserving these places on a large scale; each of us must have the duty not to pollute them and not damage the flora and micro fauna; controlled hunting in some sites helps the control of biological balance.

4. Villagrande Strisaili and the Orosei's gulf

Stop on a rock surrounded by greenery, listen to the chirping of birds, inhale the fresh air and immerse your gaze towards the distant horizon;there is no more beautiful gift from nature.