Austria's Alpine Adventure: Mountainous Majesty

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, form the country's backbone and are home to some of the finest mountains in Central Europe. The country is home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps, which run from east to west across the country. The Central Alps are the highest and largest range in the country, with the Großglockner mountain reaching 3,798 m (12,460 ft). The Eastern Alps constitute 62% of the country's total area, and only 32% of Austria is below 500 m (1,640 ft) above sea level.

Austria's mountains offer a variety of adventures that attract tourists from all over the world all year round. In the winter, people enjoy snow sports such as skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding, while in the summer, there are activities such as paragliding, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and rafting. The country's extensive lakes and rivers also provide opportunities for water sports and other activities.

Some of the notable mountains in Austria include Großglockner, the highest peak in the country; Wildspitze; Weißkugel; Großvenediger; and Kitzsteinhorn. The Austrian Alps also encompass several other minor ranges and chains, such as the Ötztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in Tyrol, East Tyrol, and Carinthia.

Austria's highest mountain

Austria is a highly mountainous country, with the Austrian Alps forming the country's backbone. The Eastern Alps stretch from west to east across the country, and the nation is also home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps.

The Großglockner, or just Glockner, is Austria's highest mountain, at 3,798 metres (12,461 ft) above the Adriatic. It is part of the Glockner Group of the Hohe Tauern range, situated along the main ridge of the Central Eastern Alps and the Alpine divide. The Großglockner is characterised by its pyramid-shaped peak, which actually consists of two pinnacles: the Großglockner and the Kleinglockner, which stands at 3,770 m (12,370 ft). The Großglockner lies on the border between the Austrian states of Carinthia and Tyrol (East Tyrol). The peak is part of the Glocknerkamm ridge in the Glockner Group, which branches off the main chain of the Alps at Eiskögele. The Glockner Group is part of the Hohe Tauern range, which is the highest and largest range in the country.

The Großglockner is also the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass, and the second most topographically prominent peak in the Alps after Mont Blanc. The view from the summit is one of the farthest of all mountains in the Eastern Alps, ranging out to 220 km (140 mi) or, accounting for atmospheric refraction, almost 240 km (150 mi). Its view covers over 150,000 km2 (58,000 sq mi) of the Earth's surface, reaching as far as the Upper Swabian Plateau in the northwest, Regensburg and the peaks of the Bohemian Forest in the north, Ortler in the west, the Padan Plain in the south, and Triglav and the Totes Gebirge range in the east.

The Großglockner's summit was first reached in 1799 by two peasants from Heiligenblut, who were acting as mountain guides for the Gurk prince-bishop Count Franz Xaver of Salm. The first non-Austrian to reach the summit was John Ball, an Irish alpinist, in 1853.

The Central Alps

The highest mountain in the Austrian Central Alps is Grossglockner, which peaks at 3,798 metres (12,461 ft) or 3,800 metres, depending on the source. The Central Alps have the highest peaks of the Eastern Alps, located between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. The Central Alps consist mainly of gneiss and slate rocks from the various Austroalpine nappes, with some exceptions.

The Northern Calcareous Alps

The distinction between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Central Eastern Alps, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition. The Northern Calcareous Alps are characterised by a carbonate-dominated polyphase fold-thrust wedge, which is part of the far-travelled Upper Austroalpine thrust complex of the Eastern Alps.

The highest peaks in the Northern Limestone Alps are the Parseierspitze, at 3,036 metres, in the Lechtal Alps, and the Hoher Dachstein, at 2,996 metres. Other notable peaks include the Zugspitze, at 2,962 metres, located on the German-Austrian frontier and listed as the highest peak in Germany.

The Alpine Club classification of the Northern Limestone Alps, from east to west, includes the following ranges:

• Rax and Schneeberg
• Mürzsteg Alps (Schneealpe)
• Ennstal Alps (including Gesäuse)
• Upper Austrian Prealps
• Dachstein Mountains
• Salzkammergut Mountains
• Tennen Mountains
• Berchtesgaden Alps
• Lofer and Leogang Mountains
• Kaiser Mountains
• Brandenberg Alps
• Bavarian Prealps
• Wetterstein and Mieming Range
• Lechquellen Mountains
• Bregenz Forest Mountains

The Southern Calcareous Alps

The Southern Limestone Alps are distinguished from the Central Alps by differences in geological composition. The Southern Limestone Alps are characterised by limestone peaks, while the Central Alps are composed of higher peaks with a different geological makeup.

The Alpine Club, a UK-based organisation for outdoor enthusiasts, has classified the ranges of the Southern Limestone Alps from east to west as follows:

• Kamnik-Savinja Alps
• Southern Carnic Alps
• Fiemme Mountains
• Garda Mountains
• Adamello-Presanella Alps
• Sobretta-Gavia Group

Austria is home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, form the backbone of the country. The Eastern Alps constitute 62% of Austria's total area, making it one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, which stands at 3,798 metres (12,460 feet). Other notable mountains in Austria include Wildspitze (3,768 m/12,362 ft), Weißkugel (3,738 m/12,263 ft), Großvenediger (3,662 m/12,014 ft), and Kitzsteinhorn (3,203 m/10,508 ft).

The dense forests, raging rivers, and snow-capped summits of the Austrian Alps provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, wild boars, martens, chamois, alpine ibex, and alpine marmots.

The Eastern Alps

The Central Alps consist mainly of gneiss and slate rocks of the various Austroalpine nappes, with the exception of the Hohe Tauern and Engadine windows, which are composed mostly of Jurassic rock and limestones, and locally of granite. The Austroalpine nappes are thrusted over the Penninic nappe stack. The Central Alps and Southern Alps are separated by the Southern Longitudinal Valley (the Puster Valley, Drava Valley, and Klagenfurt Basin, among others). The Central and Northern Alps are separated by the Northern Longitudinal Trough (the Klostertal, Arlberg, Inn Valley, and Salzach Valley, among others).

Frequently asked questions