Arnspitze Group
Encyclopedia
The Arnspitze Group is a free-standing mountain chain in Austrian and Germany, in the states of Tyrol
and Bavaria
, between Seefeld in Tirol and Mittenwald
, and between the Leutasch valley
in the west and the Isar valley
near Scharnitz
in the east. In the literature, the Arnspitze Group is classed as part of the Wettersteingebirge. The majority of the group belongs to Tyrol, a northeastern part of the chain lies in Bavaria. The border between Bavaria and Tyrol runs over the summit of the Große Arnspitze.
(along the main chain from the northwest)
to the Hoher Sattel. From the hamlet of Ahrn and from the hunting lodge on the Hoher Sattel there are 5 paths to the individual summits.
Whilst the Große Arnspitze and the Arnplattenspitze may be reached either from Mittenwald
via the Riedberg or from Scharnitz
on a partially exposed climbing route, the ridge path of the three peaks, including the Mittlere Arnspitze requires climbing expertise of grade II
standard.
The most scenic route to the Große Arnspitze runs from the Leutasch
over the Riedbergscharte and the Achterköpfe. Below the summit at a height of is the unmanned hut of Arnspitzhütte.
and belongs tectonically to the Inn Valley range (Inntaldecke), only the northernmost part from the Riedberg ridge (Riedbergscharte) is part of the Lech Valley range (Lechtaldecke). The Arnspitze Group is, for the most part, made up of rocks of Wetterstein limestone
, which dip towards the southeast. In the area of the Hoher Sattel, a band of Raibler strata runs from west to east, while the Zunteregg, which is 1682 m above sea level and lies south of the Arnspitze, is made of dolomia principale formation
(Hauptdolomit) rock. Lead used to be mined at the foot of the Große Arnspitze. The mine lay on Bavarian territory just north of the Austrian border in the Isar valley, at the southwestern end of the Riedboden.
. The Arnspitze Nature Reserve was established on 19 November 1942. That part which is nowadays in Austria, on the territory of the municipalities of Leutasch
and Scharnitz
in the district of Innsbruck Land, is designated a nature reserve by the Tyrolean nature conservation law, and has an area of 10.8 km² , and is the oldest nature reserve in the Tyrol. The Bavarian part has an area of 1.7 km².
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
and Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, between Seefeld in Tirol and Mittenwald
Mittenwald
Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.-Geography:Mittenwald is located approx. 16 kilometers to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
, and between the Leutasch valley
Leutasch
Leutasch is a municipality in the northern part of the district Innsbruck-Land and is located approximately 30 km northwest of Innsbruck. The beautiful valley lies within a 16 km long high-lying valley and possesses 2073 inhabitants and 26 hamlets....
in the west and the Isar valley
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
near Scharnitz
Scharnitz
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land and is located 16,40 km north of Innsbruck as well as 9 km above Seefeld in Tirol at the border to Germany. It has one of the biggest area size and possesses 12 parts. The village was founded in the early middle age and was once an...
in the east. In the literature, the Arnspitze Group is classed as part of the Wettersteingebirge. The majority of the group belongs to Tyrol, a northeastern part of the chain lies in Bavaria. The border between Bavaria and Tyrol runs over the summit of the Große Arnspitze.
Peaks
- Große ArnspitzeGroße ArnspitzeThe Große Arnspitze is the highest peak in the Arnspitze Group in the Wettersteingebirge mountains. It is located west of Scharnitz in Austria. The border between Germany and Austria runs over its summit....
(2196 m AMSL) - Middle Arnspitze (Mittlere Arnspitze) (2091 m AMSL)
- Arnplattenspitze (Hintere Arnspitze) (2171 m AMSL)
- Weißlehnkopf (2002 m AMSL)
- Arnkopf (1934 m AMSL)
- Zwirchkopf (1773 m AMSL)
(along the main chain from the northwest)
Roads and paths
There are no public roads in the region; only a very steep forest road from Ahrn in the municipality of LeutaschLeutasch
Leutasch is a municipality in the northern part of the district Innsbruck-Land and is located approximately 30 km northwest of Innsbruck. The beautiful valley lies within a 16 km long high-lying valley and possesses 2073 inhabitants and 26 hamlets....
to the Hoher Sattel. From the hamlet of Ahrn and from the hunting lodge on the Hoher Sattel there are 5 paths to the individual summits.
Whilst the Große Arnspitze and the Arnplattenspitze may be reached either from Mittenwald
Mittenwald
Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria.-Geography:Mittenwald is located approx. 16 kilometers to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
via the Riedberg or from Scharnitz
Scharnitz
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land and is located 16,40 km north of Innsbruck as well as 9 km above Seefeld in Tirol at the border to Germany. It has one of the biggest area size and possesses 12 parts. The village was founded in the early middle age and was once an...
on a partially exposed climbing route, the ridge path of the three peaks, including the Mittlere Arnspitze requires climbing expertise of grade II
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
standard.
The most scenic route to the Große Arnspitze runs from the Leutasch
Leutasch
Leutasch is a municipality in the northern part of the district Innsbruck-Land and is located approximately 30 km northwest of Innsbruck. The beautiful valley lies within a 16 km long high-lying valley and possesses 2073 inhabitants and 26 hamlets....
over the Riedbergscharte and the Achterköpfe. Below the summit at a height of is the unmanned hut of Arnspitzhütte.
Geology
The Arnspitze Group is part of the Northern Limestone AlpsNorthern Limestone Alps
The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...
and belongs tectonically to the Inn Valley range (Inntaldecke), only the northernmost part from the Riedberg ridge (Riedbergscharte) is part of the Lech Valley range (Lechtaldecke). The Arnspitze Group is, for the most part, made up of rocks of Wetterstein limestone
Wetterstein limestone
Wetterstein limestone and Wetterstein dolomite are the most common names for a carbonate rock from the Middle Triassic epoch of the Ladinian stage, comparable to the German stage in which muschelkalk rock strata were formed....
, which dip towards the southeast. In the area of the Hoher Sattel, a band of Raibler strata runs from west to east, while the Zunteregg, which is 1682 m above sea level and lies south of the Arnspitze, is made of dolomia principale formation
Dolomia Principale Formation
The Dolomia Principale Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation. Fossil prosauropod tracks have been reported from the formation.-See also:* List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations** List of stratigraphic units with sauropodomorph tracks...
(Hauptdolomit) rock. Lead used to be mined at the foot of the Große Arnspitze. The mine lay on Bavarian territory just north of the Austrian border in the Isar valley, at the southwestern end of the Riedboden.
Arnspitze Nature Reserve
The Arnspitze Group is a nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. The Arnspitze Nature Reserve was established on 19 November 1942. That part which is nowadays in Austria, on the territory of the municipalities of Leutasch
Leutasch
Leutasch is a municipality in the northern part of the district Innsbruck-Land and is located approximately 30 km northwest of Innsbruck. The beautiful valley lies within a 16 km long high-lying valley and possesses 2073 inhabitants and 26 hamlets....
and Scharnitz
Scharnitz
Scharnitz is a municipality in the district of Innsbruck-Land and is located 16,40 km north of Innsbruck as well as 9 km above Seefeld in Tirol at the border to Germany. It has one of the biggest area size and possesses 12 parts. The village was founded in the early middle age and was once an...
in the district of Innsbruck Land, is designated a nature reserve by the Tyrolean nature conservation law, and has an area of 10.8 km² , and is the oldest nature reserve in the Tyrol. The Bavarian part has an area of 1.7 km².
Fire disaster
At the end of August 1947 a devastating fire broke out on the southeastern slopes of the Arnspitze as a result of extreme drought. The fire was fought for weeks by thousands of firemen from Upper Bavaria and Tyrol. This side of the mountain has remained bare ever since.Sources
- Oberhuber, W. (1995). Naturschutzgebiet Arnspitze Naturinventar. Im Auftrag der Abteilung Umweltschutz, Amt der Tiroler Landesregierung.