Berchtesgaden Alps

Berchtesgaden Alps
Berchtesgaden Alps
	The Hochkönig from the south
Highest point
Peak	Hochkönig
Elevation	2,941 m (9,649 ft)
Coordinates	47°25′13″N13°3′45″E/ 47.42028°N 13.06250°E
Dimensions
Length	45 km (28 mi)
Area	1,089.0 km2(420.5 sq mi)
Geography
Countries	GermanyandAustria
States	BavariaandSalzburg
Parent range	Northern Limestone Alps; Northern Salzburg Alps
Geology
Rock age	Triassic
Rock type(s)	Wetterstein limestone,RamsaudolomiteandDachsteinlimestone

TheBerchtesgaden Alps(German:Berchtesgadener Alpen) are a mountain range of theNorthern Limestone Alps,named after the market town ofBerchtesgadenlocated in the centre. It is crossed by theAustria–Germany border:the central part belongs to theBerchtesgadener Landdistrict of southeasternBavaria,Germany,while the adjacent area in the north, east and south is part of theAustrianstate ofSalzburg(Salzburger Land).

Geography

Mountains and lakes

While the highest mountain of the Berchtesgaden Alps is theHochkönig(2,941 metres (9,649 ft)) located in the Austrian part, the best known peak is theWatzmannmassif, the third-highest mountain of Germany at 2,713 metres (8,901 ft). The range also comprises theObersalzbergslope east of Berchtesgaden, known for the formerBerghofresidence ofAdolf Hitler.The picturesque heart is formed by the glacialKönigsseelake with the famousSt. Bartholomew's pilgrimage churchand the smallerObersee,both part of theBerchtesgaden National Parkestablished in 1978. The range also comprises glaciers like theBlaueisas well as theSteinernes Meerhigh karst plateau.

Peaks

The most important summits of the Berchtesgaden Alps are (groups in order of height):

Hochkönig massif:Hochkönig(2,941 m),Hochseiler(2,793 m),Torsäule(2,587 m), Mandlwand
Watzmann massif:Watzmann-Mittel- (2,713 m) and -Südspitze (2,712 m), Kleiner Watzmann (Watzmannfrau) (2,307 m), Watzmannkinder (up to 2,270 m)
Steinernes Meer:Selbhorn(2,655 m),Schönfeldspitze(2,653 m),Brandhorn(2,609 m),Großer Hundstod(2,594 m),Funtenseetauern(2,579 m),Wildalmkirchl(2,578 m), Schareck (2,570 m),Breithorn(2,504 m),Persailhorn(2,347 m)
Hochkalter Mountains:Hochkalter(2,607 m),Hocheisspitze(2,521 m),Seehorn(2,321 m)
Göllstock:Hoher Göll(2,522 m),Hohes Brett(2,340 m),Jenner(1,874 m),Ahornbüchsenkopf(1,604 m)
Hagen Mountains:Großes Teufelshorn(2,363 m),Kahlersberg(2,350 m),Schneibstein(2,276 m),Feuerpalven(1,741 m)
Reiter Alpe:Stadelhorn(2,286 m),Großes Häuselhorn(2,284 m),Wagendrischelhorn(2,251 m),Großes Mühlsturzhorn(2,235 m), Großes Grundübelhorn (2,098 m),Schottmalhorn(2,045 m)
Untersberg:Berchtesgaden Hochthron(1,973 m), Salzburg Hochthron (1,853 m)
Lattengebirge:Karkopf(1,738 m),Dreisesselberg(1,680 m),Predigtstuhl(1,618 m),Spechtenköpfe(1,285 m)

Boundaries and neighbouring groups

The Berchtesgaden Alps border on the following other mountain groups of the Alps:

Salzkammergut Mountainsto the east (Osterhorn Group), separated by theSalzburg Basin(city of Salzburg,Hallein)
Tennen Mountainsto the southeast, on the far side of theSalzach gapby theLueg Pass
Salzburg Slate Alpsto the south, bounded by the line fromBischofshofen- Mühlbachtal (village ofMühlbach) –Dienten Saddle–Dienten–Filzen Saddle–UrslauviaMaria AlmtoSaalfelden
Kitzbühel Alpsfor a small section in the southwest near Saalfelden
LoferandLeogang Mountainsto the west, from the SalzburgSaalachvalley as far asLofer
Chiemgau Alpsto the northwest fromUnken (Salzburg)via the BavarianSchneizlreuthtoBad Reichenhall

TheBerchtesgaden Alpsare included under this name in the generally acceptedAlpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps(AVE) as mountain group no. 10 and counted as part of theNorthern Limestone Alps.

Literature

Heinrich Bauregger:Berchtesgadener Land,Rother Wanderführer,Bergverlag Rother,Munich,ISBN 978-3-7633-4226-6
Bernhard Kühnhauser:Berchtesgadener Alpen,Rother Alpenvereinsführer alpin, Bergverlag Rother, Munich,ISBN 978-3-7633-1127-9appeared in October 8

References

External links

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany Czech Republic