The Hohe Tauern National Park is not only the largest nature reserve Of Austria, but all of Central Europe. The federal states Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol have a part in it.
background
Bearded Vulture Monitoring
Due to human persecution, the last breeding populations of bearded vultures in the Alps were extinguished around 1900. For a long time there was a misconception that the "lammergeyer" also killed sheep, but the birds of prey are pure scavengers. Live bearded vultures are bred regularly only in zoos.
Starting in the Hohe Tauern National Park, the bearded vulture has been resettled in the Alps since 1986. In one of the largest conservation projects in Europe, almost 200 young vultures born in zoos were relocated. Since 1997, the bearded vultures have been breeding again in Haute-Savoie (France), in 1998 a couple was born on Stelvio Pass (Italy) observed. The largest birds of prey in the Alpine region have been breeding again in Austria since 2001, and the first successful breeding in Austria is documented for 2010 in the Rauris Krumltal.
- There are guided tours of the national park rangers to watch the bearded vultures in the Fleißtal (see at National Park Administration).
- Bearded Vulture Online: Several bearded vultures wear a satellite transmitter on a lap belt and report up to 10 positions per day to the bearded vulture team via SMS. The flight paths of the birds can be queried online.
getting there
Of Germany the western part of the national park can be reached via the Kiefersfelden border crossing of the A 12 (Inntal motorway), from the Wörgl junction via the B 312 to St. Johann, then via the B 161 over the Thurn pass to Mittersill and on the B 108 into the national park area. Alternatively you can from Salzburg Arrive via the A 10 (Tauern Autobahn) to the Bischofshofen junction and the B 311. By train, it is recommended to take the Tauernbahn, for example to Bad Gastein.
mobility
It is the only street that crosses it Grossglockner High Alpine Road the national park in north-south direction. The Tauern autobahn A 12 leads east past the national park, the Felbertauern road B 108 crosses under the main Alpine ridge in the Felbertauern tunnel and the train runs in the tunnel (with car loading from Böckstein - Mallnitz) under the mountain range.
places
National park communities:
- In Salzburg (state): Muhr, Krimml, Wald-Königsleiten, Neukirchen, Bramberg, Hollersbach, Mittersill, Neukirchen am Großvenediger, Uttendorf, Niedernsill, Kaprun, Fusch, Rauris, Hüttschlag, Bad Gastein.
Tourist Attractions
In addition to the grandiose high mountain landscape, the national park also offers the following highlights:
- Kaprun high mountain reservoirs - The journey with buses and an inclined elevator takes travelers to the Mooserboden reservoir at 2040 m, which is located in a magnificent high mountain setting with glaciated three-thousand-meter peaks. The "Erlebniswelt Strom & Eis" museum is located on the reservoir. Guided tours of the dam wall are offered. The trips take place from the beginning of June to around mid-October (info).
- Kitzloch Gorge (http://www.kitzlochklamm.at)
- Wildlife Park Ferleiten (http://www.wildpark-ferleiten.at)
- Hochfeld copper mine
- WasserWunderWelten: New waterfall center and adventure offer in Krimml
activities
- Panning for gold in the Rauris Valley;
- Stubnerkogelbahn suspension bridge (of Bad Gastein out). Since December 2009, a 140-meter-long, 250,000-euro suspension bridge with a transparent grating floor and transparent railing has been leading from the restaurant at the mountain station of the cable car at a height of 2300 meters to the transmitter opposite. It is part of a circular hiking trail with a ridge walk. The suspension bridge is accessible all year round and is listed as the highest suspension bridge in Europe.
- Rafting & Co.: There are numerous offers for an adventure holiday: rafting, paragliding, canyoning, climbing and a high ropes course.
security
Despite all the comforts that the development has brought with it for tourism, you should never forget that you are in the high mountains. Especially for residents of the lowlands, the sometimes extremely rapid weather changes are hardly imaginable.
Make sure you wear adequate clothing, rain protection and, above all, good shoes! The mountain rescue workers have to realize again and again that overconfidence is the most common cause of accidents in high mountains. So, please, respect the mountain and if in doubt, better turn back! Plan the mountain tours with a view to the way back! It is also important to have sunscreen against the aggressive radiation in the mountains and enough to drink.
