Damon Mcknight
Austria is home to some of the finest mountains in Central Europe, with 62% of the country occupied by the Alps and their extensions. The three major ranges of the Alps that run west to east through Austria are the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps, which include the High Tauern range, are the largest and highest ranges in the country. The Northern Calcareous Alps run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border, while the Southern Calcareous Alps sit on the Carinthia-Slovenia border.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mountain ranges | The Alps, including the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps |
| Direction | Run west to east |
| Geology | Granite base, limestone, and dolomite |
| Highest mountain | Großglockner (3,797 m) |
| Mountain passes | Semmering Pass, Pyrhn Pass, Tauern Pass, and Brenner Pass |
| Rivers | Danube, Tyrolian Inn, Salzach, Enns, Drau |
| Tourist activities | Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, cable car rides |
| Environmental impact | Damage to forests and ecosystems, pressure on infrastructure |
| Percentage of country | 62% of Austria is occupied by the Alps |
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What You'll Learn
The Central Alps
The term "Central Eastern Alps" may be used more broadly to refer to a larger area of the Eastern Alps, mainly located in Austria. This area extends from the foot of the Bergamasque Alps at Lake Como and the Bernina Range in eastern Switzerland along the Liechtenstein shore of the Rhine in the west to the lower promontories east of the river Mur, including the Hochwechsel in Austrian Styria. The valleys of the rivers Inn, Salzach, and Enns mark their northern boundary, while the Drau river marks their southern border.
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The Northern Calcareous Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are distinguished from the Central Alps by their geological composition, with the latter containing a granite base and housing the highest peaks. In contrast, the Northern Limestone Alps are predominantly composed of limestone and dolomite. The highest mountain in the Northern Limestone Alps is Parseierspitze at 3,036 metres (9,961 ft), located in the Lechtal Alps. Another notable peak in this range is the Hoher Dachstein, which rises to 2,996 metres (9,829 ft) and is the highest mountain in the Dachstein Mountains.
The Northern Limestone Alps offer breathtaking attractions, such as the summits surrounding Hoher Dachstein, which include the dizzying Dachstein Sky Walk. This observation deck, built into one of Hunerkogel's sheer 250-metre-long rock faces, provides a unique viewing experience. Other draws in the area include the Stairway to Nowhere (Treppe ins Nichts) and the suspension bridge. The Goetheweg trail in the Karwendel Nature Park is also a popular choice for hikers, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
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The Southern Calcareous Alps
The Southern Limestone Alps extend from the Sobretta-Gavia range in Lombardy, Italy, in the west to the Pohorje in Slovenia in the east. They are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps. The distinction between the Southern and Central Alps is based on differences in geological composition. The Central Alps are largely composed of granite and are the highest and largest range in Austria.
The Alps in Austria are a popular destination for tourists, with many Alpine villages growing due to the tourist industry. However, this extensive tourism places pressure on the sensitive Alpine ecosystems. Ski runs and summer sports such as off-trail mountain hiking or mountain biking damage forests. To combat this, efforts have been made to introduce more environmentally friendly forms of tourism.
The Southern Alps is also the name of a mountain range in New Zealand's South Island. This range extends approximately 500 kilometres from northeast to southwest and includes the South Island's Main Divide, which separates the water catchments of the eastern and western sides of the island.
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The Bohemian Massif
The Sudetes subprovince includes mountain ranges such as the Lusatian Mountains, Jizera Mountains, Giant Mountains, Owl Mountains, and Stołowe Mountains. The Ore Mountains subprovince features ranges like the Ore Mountains themselves, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, and the Central Bohemian Upland. The Bohemian Forest subprovince encompasses the Bohemian Forest, Bavarian Forest, Upper Palatine Forest, and the Granite and Gneiss Plateau.
The Bohemian-Moravian subprovince consists of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and Brno Highlands, while the Poberoun subprovince includes the Brdy mountain range and the Prague Plateau. Lastly, the Bohemian Table subprovince comprises the lowlands surrounding the Elbe River.
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The Kitzbühel Alps
The mountain range is divided by the Kitzbüheler Ache into the Glemmtal Alps in the east and the Kelchsau Alps in the west. The highest summit in the Kitzbühel Alps is the Kreuzjoch, standing at 2558 metres above sea level. Other notable summits include the Western Salzachgeier, Kröndlhorn, Großer Rettenstein, Geißstein, Wildseeloder, Großer Beil, and Großer Galtenberg.
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Frequently asked questions
Three major ranges of the Alps run through Austria from west to east: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps.
The Central Alps are the largest and highest ranges in Austria. They include areas that are permanently glaciated, such as the Ötztal Alps and the High Tauern.
At 3,797 meters, Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria.
The second-highest mountain in Austria is the Hoher Dachstein, which stands at 2,995 meters. It is part of the Dachstein Mountains in the Northern Limestone Alps.
Other mountain ranges in Austria include the Kitzbühel Alps, the Karwendel Mountains, and the Bohemian Massif.
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