Among all the southern
Julian Prealps that overlook the Friulian plain, the grassy ridge of Mount Joanaz stands out, with its northern peak reaching 1167 meters above sea level. Easily identifiable from the plain due to its distinctive elongated shape along the north-south axis, the Joanaz is considered one of the few summits from which it is possible to enjoy extensive views of both the Julian Alps and the sea. The broad and extensive summit area is characterized by pasture meadows, which are partially no longer used and overrun by juniper, hellebore, and asphodel, which bloom white at the end of May, and by the splendid and sometimes exceptional daffodil blooms. These are prairies dominated by a grass species typical of acidic or neutral soils, as the entire mountainous complex is made up of Eocene marls and marly limestones.
The western slope towards Canebola hosts extensive artificial reforestation with Scots pine, black pine, and spruce, partially devastated by violent fires. On the eastern slope towards Masarolis and Tamoris, there are mixed broad-leaved forest formations with major ash, sycamore, black hornbeam, chestnut, and wild lime trees.
Accessibility: Along the road that goes from Bocchette di Sant’Antonio to Tamoris, at the height of Monte Caludranza, a forest track branches off that, which after a long journey, leads almost to the summit.
