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Austria is a highly mountainous country, with the Alps forming the backbone of the country. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, constitute 62% of the country's total area. The country is home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps. The Central Alps are the highest and largest range in the country, with the Grossglockner peak rising to 3,798 meters (12,460 feet) above the Adriatic Sea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mountain ranges | The Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps |
| Highest mountain | Großglockner (3,798 m/12,460 ft) |
| Number of named summits | 23,674 |
| Percentage of country above 500 m | 67% |
| Mountain lakes | Many, a legacy of the Pleistocene Epoch |
| Glaciers | Present |
| Rivers | Danube River |
| Forest ecoregions | Alps conifer and mixed forests, Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, and Western European broadleaf forests |
| Geology | Igneous quartz, granite, gneiss |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian Alps
The highest and most prominent mountain in Austria is Großglockner, which stands at 3,798 m (12,460 ft). The Eastern Alps constitute the largest mountainous area of Austria, making up 62% of the country's total area. The Austrian Alps offer numerous hiking destinations, including the Silvretta Alps, which stretch across Tirol and Vorarlberg and into Switzerland. The Silvretta Alps are home to Vorarlberg's highest mountain, Piz Buin, which stands at 3,312 m. The best months to hike in the Austrian Alps are July, August, and September, although hiking is possible in June at lower elevations.
The Lechquellen Mountains (Lechquellen Gebirge) are a mountain range within the Northern Limestone Alps in Vorarlberg. The range is popular due to the Lechweg long-distance hiking trail and its proximity to Lech am Arlberg. The Bohemian Forest (Böhmerwald), a low mountain range that is part of the Bohemian Massif, lies north of the Danube River. The Bohemian Massif and the Alps were both shaped by the Variscan Orogeny, a mountain-building event caused by a continental collision between the continents of Gondwana and Euramerica, forming Pangea.
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Grossglockner
Austria is a highly mountainous country, with the Alps constituting 62% of the country's total area. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, form the country's backbone. The Grossglockner, or Glockner, is Austria's highest mountain, at 3,798 metres (12,461 ft) above the Adriatic. It is also the highest mountain in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass. The Grossglockner is situated along the main ridge of the Central Eastern Alps and the Alpine divide. It is part of the larger Glockner Group of the Hohe Tauern range, which is shared with Italy. 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 Grossglockner has a distinctive double peak, formed by the Grossglockner and the Kleinglockner (3,770 m or 12,370 ft). The Kleinglockner is considered either a subpeak or a separate main summit. The Obere Glocknerscharte between the two peaks, at 3,766 m (12,356 ft), is the highest col in Austria. The Grossglockner's eastern slope is home to the Pasterze, Austria's most extended glacier. The Grossglockner rock summit is often compared to the mountains of the Western Alps due to its high Alpine, heavily glaciated appearance. The view from the Grossglockner summit is one of the farthest of all mountains in the Eastern Alps, ranging out to almost 240 km (150 mi).
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is one of the best-known landmarks in Austria and is regarded as one of the loveliest excursion and panoramic roads in the world. The road is 48 kilometres long and features 36 twists and turns, leading to numerous viewing points, free exhibitions, and hiking paths. The road blends seamlessly into the mountains, providing a unique natural experience and the opportunity to see rare plants and animals.
Climbing the Grossglockner is a challenging multi-day expedition, involving a demanding climb on both rock and glacier. The best time to climb is from June to September, avoiding weekends. The climb typically takes two days, with an additional three to five hours to descend from the Grossglockner back to the parking lot.
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Hinterer Brochkogel
However, it is important to note that the area is prone to avalanches, and safe skiing is not possible in some areas due to unstable snow layers. Skiers and mountaineers are advised to follow local guidelines and take the necessary equipment, including standard ski mountaineering equipment and a complete glacier equipment set. Respecting the natural habitat of wild animals in the mountains is crucial, and dogs should be kept on a lead to avoid disturbing wildlife.
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Eastern Alps
Austria is a highly mountainous country due to its position within the Alps mountain range. The largest mountainous area of Austria is the Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of the country's total area. The Eastern Alps include the Dolomite Alps in Italy, the Bavarian Alps of southern Germany and western Austria, the Tauern Mountains in Austria, and the Julian Alps, which cross the Italian border into Slovenia. The Central Alps, which stretch from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border, are the highest and largest range in the country and are considered part of the Eastern Alps. The Central Alps encompass several other minor ranges and chains, including the Otztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in Tyrol. The Central Alps are located between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps, from which they differ in geological composition. The Central Alps consist mainly of the 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 limestone, and locally of granite. The term "Central Eastern Alps" may be used more broadly to refer to a larger area of the Eastern Alps, mainly located in Austria.
The highest mountain in the Eastern Alps is Piz Bernina at 4,049 m (13,284 ft) in the Bernina Group of the Western Rhaetian Alps in Switzerland. The sole four-thousander of the range, its name is taken from the Bernina Pass and was given in 1850 by Johann Coaz, who also made the first ascent. The rocks composing Piz Bernina are diorites and gabbros, while the massif in general is composed of granites. The next highest peak in the Eastern Alps is the Ortler at 3,905 m (12,812 ft) in Italian South Tyrol, followed by the Grossglockner, which stands on the border of Carinthia and East Tyrol in Austria at 3,798 m (12,461 ft) and is the highest mountain in the country. The region around the Grossglockner and the adjacent Pasterze Glacier has been a special protection area within the High Tauern National Park since 1986. Other high Tyrolian mountains in the Eastern Alps include the Konigspitze at 3,851 m, Monte Cevedale at 3,769 m, and the Wildspitze at 3,768 m. Mount Sulzfluh, located on the border between Austria and Switzerland, is another notable peak in the Eastern Alps, with a summit of 2,817 m that can be reached via a mountain path on its eastern side.
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Southern Limestone Alps
Austria is a highly mountainous country due to its position within the Alps mountain range. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, form the country's backbone. 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 Southern Limestone Alps, also called the Southern Calcareous Alps, are a range of the Eastern Alps, located south of the Central Eastern Alps. They are mainly located in northern Italy, with adjacent lands in Austria and Slovenia. The Southern Alps are a distinct physiographic section of the larger Alps province, which is part of the larger Alpine System physiographic division. The Southern Limestone Alps extend from the Sobretta-Gavia range in Lombardy in the west to the Pohorje in Slovenia in the east. The Dolomites, Carnic Alps, Julian Alps, Ortler Alps, and Vicentine Alps are some of the ranges included in the Southern Limestone Alps.
The Southern Limestone Alps are distinguished from the Central Alps by their geological composition. Unlike the Central Alps, which are primarily composed of crystalline rocks such as granite and gneiss, or slate, the Southern Limestone Alps are composed of lighter and more porous rock. In addition to limestone, they also contain dolomite, marl, and sandstone.
The Limestone Alps as a whole, which include both the Northern and Southern ranges, are of significant economic importance. They serve as a watershed source of drinking water and feature numerous accessible dripstone and ice caves. The mountain and hill profiles of the Limestone Alps are quite varied, ranging from jagged peaks and sheer rock faces to high plateaus and extensive areas of karst formations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian landscape is characterised by mountains and forests. The Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, form the country's backbone.
The Central Alps are the highest and largest range in Austria, stretching from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border.
Austria is home to three major mountain ranges of the Alps: the Southern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Northern Limestone Alps. The Bohemian Massif, a low mountain range, is also partially in Austria.
The highest mountains in Austria include Grossglockner, Grossvenediger, Hinterer Brochkogel, and Hintere Schwarze.
While they may not be as tall as those in neighbouring France or Switzerland, the mountains in Austria are still considered some of the most beautiful and breathtaking in Europe. However, they can also be extremely dangerous, with peaks such as the Glocknerwand and the Glocknerwald known for their challenging climbs.
