national park italian french national grand italian national park alps regions park named mountain located park french national park land park encompasses initially protected order protect alpine personal hunting ground king victor protects species history early 19th century hunting alpine survived area approximately individual survived hunted partly sport body parts thought properties small cross shaped bone near heart order protect violent death decrease population soon king italy declared protective guard created paths laid today kilometres marked trails tracks victor grandson king victor iii donated park original square kilometres acres park established italy national park approximately park protected despite presence park remained protection increased park geography park located alps regions north west italy encompasses square kilometres acres alpine terrain park surface area wooded agriculture pasture classified sterile park surface area occupied glaciers park mountains valleys sculpted glaciers streams altitudes park range metres average altitude metres valley floors park forested alpine meadows higher altitudes rocks glaciers altitudes higher meadows mountain entirely boundaries italy metres high seen summit person reach summit west park shares boundary france combined parks form largest protected area western_europe operate managing population moves shared boundary flora park woods important provide shelter large number animals natural defence landslides flooding main types woods found park coniferous deciduous woods deciduous european beech forests common park found forests thick dense foliage lets little light summer beech leaves long time form thick layer woodland floor development plants trees common trees forests valley floors mixed swiss stone rarely silver maple lime forests found forests present isolated areas risk extinction oak woods common area area higher temperatures lower precipitation oak typical species park found mixed scots pine park chestnut affected human cultivation wood fruit rarely grows metres important chestnut forests park park woods include scots pine spruce forests dominated norway spruce mixed swiss stone pine woods found highest sub alpine level metres higher altitudes trees gradually thin alpine rich flowers late spring park high meadows include wild park rocky habitats located alpine areas rock surface alpine plants adapted habitats assuming characteristics like bright coloured flowers highly developed roots plant species seen near inside park fauna alpine abundant mountain summer descend lower elevations winter pairing provides year round protection animal species found park include hare alpine wolf recently arrived maybe spend year tree line descend valleys winter spring alpine forage plants snow line bird species park including eagle owl rock alpine golden eagles nest rocky trees found steep cliffs black park woodlands park supports species butterflies including peak whites southern white
Gran Paradiso National Park