Although the Dolomites are geographically a sub-range of the Italian Alps, they are geologically and visually distinct from the rest of the "Central Alps" (like the Swiss or French Alps). The primary difference lies in the rock composition: while the main Alps were formed by the collision of tectonic plates pushing up granite and metamorphic rock, the Dolomites are composed of fossilized coral reefs and magnesium-rich limestone. This rock, called dolostone, was formed at the bottom of a tropical sea millions of years ago. This unique chemistry results in a "pale" hue and a vertical, jagged architecture of sheer walls and pinnacles that differs from the more rounded, glacier-carved peaks of the broader Alpine range. This phenomenon also creates the famous "Enrosadira" (alpenglow), where the pale peaks turn vibrant shades of pink, orange, and purple at sunset. Furthermore, the Dolomites have much less glacial coverage compared to the high-altitude peaks of the Western Alps, leading to a landscape characterized by dramatic plateaus and grassy meadows directly beneath vertical stone towers.