Leoganger Steinberge
Encyclopedia
The Leoganger Steinberge ("Leogang Stone Mountains") are a mountain range in Austria
in the state of Salzburg and form part of the Northern Limestone Alps
within the Eastern Alps
. They are located between the Lofer
valley, Saalfelden
and Leogang
and, together with the Loferer Steinberge
to the northwest form two mountain massifs that are separated by the Römersattel (1,202 m), but which the Alpine categorisation of the Eastern Alps defines as a single sub-group (the Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge). The Leoganger Steinberge are separated from the Kitzbühel Alps to the south and the Steinernes Meer
to the east by deeply incised valleys. Typical of the Steinberge are high plateaux with steep sides and sharply undulating high cirques.
As typical karst
mountains the Leoganger Steinberge are also pierced by numerous cave
s. The most famous of these is the Lamprechtsofen, over 50 km long, located immediately next to the federal road
between Lofer
and Saalfelden
. A prominent rock formation is the Melkerloch in the southeastern face of the Birnhorn mountain.
At 2634 metres (8,641.7 ft) the Birnhorn is the highest peak in the range. The Hochfilzen Military Training Area used by the Austrian Army lies in the west of the Leoganger Steinberge.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in the state of Salzburg and form part of the Northern Limestone Alps
Northern 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...
within the Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...
. They are located between the Lofer
Lofer
Lofer is a market town in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg in Austria. It also hosts a lovely ski resort, with 48km of pisted runs.-Overview:...
valley, Saalfelden
Saalfelden
Saalfelden is a town in the Austrian state of Salzburg and is the administrative centre of the Pinzgauer Saalachtal...
and Leogang
Leogang
Leogang is a municipality in the district of Zell am See , in the state of Salzburg in Austria. It is a famous winter sports and Summer mountain biking resort....
and, together with the Loferer Steinberge
Loferer Steinberge
The Loferer Steinberge are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps in the Eastern Alps of central Europe. They are located in Austria in the federal states of Tyrol and Salzburg...
to the northwest form two mountain massifs that are separated by the Römersattel (1,202 m), but which the Alpine categorisation of the Eastern Alps defines as a single sub-group (the Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge). The Leoganger Steinberge are separated from the Kitzbühel Alps to the south and the Steinernes Meer
Steinernes Meer
The Steinernes Meer is a high karst plateau in the Northern Limestone Alps. As one of the nine sub-ranges of the Berchtesgaden Alps the Steinernes Meer belongs partly to Bavaria and partly to Salzburg.- Location :...
to the east by deeply incised valleys. Typical of the Steinberge are high plateaux with steep sides and sharply undulating high cirques.
As typical karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
mountains the Leoganger Steinberge are also pierced by numerous cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s. The most famous of these is the Lamprechtsofen, over 50 km long, located immediately next to the federal road
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
between Lofer
Lofer
Lofer is a market town in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg in Austria. It also hosts a lovely ski resort, with 48km of pisted runs.-Overview:...
and Saalfelden
Saalfelden
Saalfelden is a town in the Austrian state of Salzburg and is the administrative centre of the Pinzgauer Saalachtal...
. A prominent rock formation is the Melkerloch in the southeastern face of the Birnhorn mountain.
At 2634 metres (8,641.7 ft) the Birnhorn is the highest peak in the range. The Hochfilzen Military Training Area used by the Austrian Army lies in the west of the Leoganger Steinberge.
Neighbouring ranges
The Leoganger Steinberge border on the following mountain groups in the Alps:- Loferer SteinbergeLoferer SteinbergeThe Loferer Steinberge are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps in the Eastern Alps of central Europe. They are located in Austria in the federal states of Tyrol and Salzburg...
to the northwest - Berchtesgaden AlpsBerchtesgaden AlpsThe Berchtesgaden Alps are a mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps, named after the market town of Berchtesgaden located in the centre...
to the east - Salzburg Slate Alps to the southeast
- Kitzbühel Alps to the south
- KaisergebirgeKaisergebirgeThe Kaisergebirge is a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps and Eastern Alps. It consists of two main mountain ridges – the Zahmer Kaiser to the north and the Wilder Kaiser to the south. The entire range is situated in the Austrian state of Tyrol between the town of Kufstein and the...
to the west
Peaks
- Birnhorn:
- Kuchelhorn:
- Passauerkopf:
- Grießener Hochbrett:
- Signalkopf:
- Großes Rothorn:
- Dürrkarhorn:
- Hochzint:
- Mitterhorn:
- Fahnenköpfl:
- Brandhorn:
Alpine Club huts
In the Leoganger Steinberge there are only two mountain huts. They belong to the DAV - Deutscher Alpenverein - German Alpine Club but are operated by local Austrians. The DAV operates a Recripical Rights system so that OEVA - Austrian Alpine Club member discounts, were applicable, can be enjoyed.- Lamprechtsofen-Höhlengaststätte: Height: , only opened during the day in summer and winter, 6 mattress bunks, next to the BundesstraßeBundesstraßeBundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
from Lofer to Saalfelden
- Passauer Hütte: Height: , open in summer from mid-June to end of September, 45 mattress bunks, winter accommodation with 6 bedspaces, Valley destinations: Leogang, walking time: 2.75 hours. It is worth noting that as of the end of 2011 the ongoing tennancy of this hut has not been filled and thus it is possible it may be closed during the 2012 summer season and beyond.
Mountain huts
- Lettlkaser: height: , open in summer, no winter accommodation, no bedspaces, Valley destinations: Pernerwinkel-Gerstboden (2h walk), Wiesersberg-Gerstboden (2.5h walk), Leogang (2h walk), Mitterbrand (1.5h walk)