The recovery of coral reefs reached a first peak 235 million years ago, and the specimens found around Cortina are an excellent example of this. The extraordinarily well-preserved ecosystem of corals, sponges and molluscs is a unique paleontological feature of the Dolomites, testifying to an apex in marine biodiversity across the whole Mesozoic era.

Nowadays, coral reefs are one of the most spectacular environments thanks to the beauty, shape and colour of its organisms. This ecosystem finally managed to recover during the Late Ladinian period, after a big crisis following the mass extinction. The large coral colonies found in abundance on the Alpe di Siusi plateau bear witness to this significant biological event.