| Monte Meta | |
| Elevation M: | 2241 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Location: | Molise, Lazio, Abruzzo - Italy |
| Range: | Monti della Meta |
| Map: | Italy |
| Coordinates: | 41.6888°N 13.9398°W |
| Easiest Route: | Hike |
Monte Meta (or simply La Meta) is a mountain of the Apennine Mountains, in central Italy.
The mountain is part of the Monti della Meta range and lies in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise. It includes a tripoint where the Italian regions of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise meet; concerned comuni are Alfedena (AQ), Picinisco (FR) and Pizzone (IS).[2] The tripoint is located on its western sub-summit, at 2185 m, which is also the highest point of Molise.[3]
More than Monte Meta (masculine) the mountain is usually called in the spoken language la Meta (feminine);[4] it gives the name to the Monti della Meta, an Apennine sub-range.
Due to an important population of Rupicapra pyrenaica ssp. ornata living on the mountain, the access to the area is strictly regulated in order to reduce disturbance. A single footpath (named L1) is accessible to hikers during the summer. Also the days of the week for hikes and the number of hikers admitted per day are fixed, and a previous authorization must be requested to the natural park administration.[5]