Gurktal Alps
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2012) |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding articlein German.(August 2012)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Gurktal Alps | |
|---|---|
 Wöllaner Nock, 2,145 m (7,037 ft) | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Eisenhut |
| Elevation | 2,441 m (8,009 ft) |
| Coordinates | 46°57′11″N13°55′45″E/ 46.95306°N 13.92917°E |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | Austria |
| States | Carinthia,StyriaandSalzburg |
| Range coordinates | 46°57′N13°56′E/ 46.950°N 13.933°E |
| Parent range | Central Eastern Alps Carinthian-Styrian Alps(Noric Alps) |
TheGurktal Alps(German:Gurktaler Alpen,Slovene:Krške Alpe) is amountain rangein theCentral Eastern AlpsinAustriawhich is named after the valley of theGurkriver. The range stretches west toLake Millstattand east toNeumarkter Sattel(north-northwest of Neumarkt in Steiermark). The highest peak isEisenhutat 2,441m (8,009 ft).
Geography
[edit]
Location
[edit]The range is located between theMurValley to the north (which separates it from theNiedere Tauernrange) and theRiver Dravato the south, where it borders theGailtal AlpsandKaravankeranges of theSouthern Limestone Alps.In the west, the Gurktal Alps reach up to theKatschberg Passand theAnkogel Groupof theHohe Tauernrange. To the east, theNeumarktPass inUpper Styriaseparates it from the adjacentLavanttal Alps.
Subdivisions
[edit]The Gurktal Alps can be divided into five subgroups:
- TheNock Mountainslie between the Liesertal andFlattnitzer Höhe.Their highest peak is theEisenhut(2,441 m).
- TheMetnitz Mountainslie between the Mur and Metnitz valleys. Their highest peak is the Goldachnock (2,171 m).
- TheMödring Chainlies between the Metnitz and Gurktal valleys. The highest peak is the Dorferecken (1,726 m)
- TheWimitz Mountainslie between the Gurk andGlanvalleys through which flows the Wimitz river. Their highest peaks are the Schneebauerberg and the Hocheck (both 1,338 m)
At the southern end of the Gurktal Alps is the Klagenfurt Basin. Here there are seven smaller mountain chains:
- Magdalensberg(Lippekogel, 1,079 m)
- Ossiach Tauern(Taubenbühel 1,069 m)
- Glantal Highlands(Ulrichsberg, 1,022 m)
- Sattnitz(Tanzboden, 929 m)
- Feldkirchen-Moosburg Upland(Freudenberg, 817 m)
- St. Veit Upland(Buchberg, 808 m)
- Maria Saal Upland(Maria Saaler Berg, 746 m)
The Gurktal Alps are, along with theLavanttal Alpsto the east, sometimes classified as part of theNoric Alps.However, this term is not geologically justified.[1]
Peaks
[edit]The highest peaks are located within theNock Mountains(Nockberge,fromNockmeaning "rounded hilltop", cf.Nockerl) subgroup west ofFlattnitz Pass,including Mt.Eisenhut,2,441 m (8,009 ft), in the province ofStyria.TheNationalpark Nockbergelocated along thescenicNockalm Road inCarinthiahas been aprotected landscapearea (IUCNV) since 1987. The Nock Mountains also stretch down to major Carinthian lakes such as theMillstätter SeeandOssiacher See.
Other peaks include:
- Großer Rosennock,2,440 m (8,010 ft)
- Hohe Pressing,2,370 m (7,780 ft)
- Rinsennock,2,334 m (7,657 ft)
Geology
[edit]The Gurktal Alps consist mainly of three tectonic plates: at the bottom, the "mica schist plate", in the middle the "Murau plate", and the "Stolzalpen plate" at the top.
The lowest plate is made of mica schist, the middle plate is made of greenstone slates, phyllite, and marble. The top plate, the Stolzalpen plate, consisted of slates of originally similar age, but which have been transformed and now appear with clay slates, volcanic rocks, and limestone.
Economy and tourism
[edit]
The landscape has numerous mountain pastures and was the site oftranshumanceagriculture. The Gurktal Alps were also aminingarea forironandsilver.Magnesitedeposits are still being exploited nearRadenthein.
Tourismis the now most important economic sector. The valleys of the Gurktal Alps cater for tourists in summer and winter. The leading tourist area isBad Kleinkirchheim,followed byTurracher Höhe(Predlitz-TurrachandReichenau), Falkert (Reichenau), Innerkrems (Krems in Kärnten),Flattnitz,Afritzand Katschberg (Rennweg am Katschberg). The largest ski areas are Katschberg-Aineck, Innerkrems-Schönfeld-Karneralm,Turracher HöheandGerlitzenin theNock MountainsandKreischbergin theMetnitz Mountains.
The Nock Mountain region is well known for its spas. TheKarlbadalong the Nockalmstraße is the oldest farmers' healing spring in Austria.[citation needed]The method of creating the baths (with spring water and hot rocks) has remained unchanged since the 17th century.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^Norische AlpeninAustria-Forum(in German)(at AEIOU)
- Gurktal Alps / Nockberge–summitpost.org
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
