The Val Calnègia was shaped by powerful forces of nature: progressive melting of the glacier, landslides, erosion, avalanches and floods. With the retreat of the glacier, material broke away from the steep walls, forming vast expanses of stony below. Despite this, the inhabitants have managed, not without difficulty, to take advantage of the survival bases offered by nature. We come across vestiges of this period from hamlets at the bottom of the valley to the most remote mountain pastures. Walls, old land improvements, rural constructions or stairs were all built of dry stone. The empty spaces between the rocks have been enlarged and fitted out, serving as shelters for livestock, modest dwellings, a place to store hay, straw and wood or a cellar. The Val Calnègia is surrounded by inaccessible peaks that hide the sun from it during the winter months, involving natural risks such as falls of ice, rocks and avalanches. The valley is inhabited in summer only.
