The Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso was created in 1922, and now covers an area of over 70 000ha between Piedmont and the Valle d'Aosta, with mountain peaks ranging from 800m to 4 061m (the summit of the Gran Paradiso). It is inhabited by ibex, marmots, chamois and birds of prey, and is also home to rare alpine flora such as edelweiss and larch. In winter, the park offers some superb cross-country skiing trails.