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The Lower Tauern are a large group of the Central Alps in the Eastern Alps. Close to east of the Hohe Tauern. The mountain range is located in Austria in the federal states of Salzburg and Styria.

About the Name

In the Middle Ages, the mountains are named after the accompanying river, Salzburg and Admonterseits Ennstaler Alps ( 1207 "ad ALPEM que dicitur Enstalar " between Lungau and Enns), Styrian hand Murtaler Alps. When in the course of the beginning of alpinism 18-19. Century advances the geological context in the chain of the Central Alps in the foreground, established the - also Salzburgische - expression Tauern, originally called the mountain passes, and one speaks of the Tauern Alps, and in contrast to the " High " Tauern 3000 of the " Low " Tauern mountain region with a highland region. The name Ennstaler Alps then travels eastward into the mountains on both sides of the Gesäuse that Murtaler mountains are a sub- group of the Lower Tauern, the southern chain.

Topography

The Lower Tauern are limited by the following valleys:

• In the West: highest Mur Valley and the Großartal
• In the North: Enns
• In the East: Paltental and Liesingtal
• In the South: Mur

To the west of the Murtörl ( 2260 m above sea level. A. ) is regarded as distinct from the Hohe Tauern.

Subgroups

The Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps (AVE ) divides the Lower Tauern in the following four sub-groups:

• Radstadt Tauern ( Highest peak: Weisseck, 2711 m above A.. )
• Schladming Tauern mountains ( highest peak: Hochgolling, 2862 m above A.. )
• Rottenmanner and Wölzer Tauern ( Highest peak: 2475 m above sea Rettelkirchspitze A.. )
• Seckauer Tauern ( Highest peak: vulture head, 2417 m above A.. )

Rottenmanner Tauern and Wölzer Tauern are also considered as independent groups. In addition, the Murberge be distinguished as a fifth independent subgroup ( Tamsweg - Seckauer ridge, Gstoder 2140 meters above sea level. A. ) in the south, which includes the components of the Radstadt, Schladming Tauern and Wölzer.

Transport and the economy

The massif is crossed by three mountain passes from north to south:

• Radstadt Tauern Pass ( 1739 m above sea pass. A. )
• Sölkpass ( summit 1788 m above sea level. A. )
• Triebener Tauern (also Hohe Tauern mountain pass 1274m. A. )

In addition, the Tauern tunnel the Tauern motorway runs through the Radstadt Tauern.

In the long, deep valleys, there are only a few small settlements. The larger cities are located in the bounding valleys:

• Radstadt, Schladming and Liezen in the Enns Valley
• Rottenberg man shoots in Paltental
• Tamsweg, Murau, Jews Castle, Zeltweg and Knittel field in the Mur Valley

Geology and origin

The Lower Tauern are constructed as part of the Central Alps mainly of mica schists. In the east, occur more frequently on granite - gneiss and schist. From this central-eastern Alpine ceiling occur in the " Tauern Window " some limestone peaks produced: eg Mosermandl and Pleißlingkeil ( Radstadt Tauern ) or the Kalkspitzen in the Schladming Tauern.

In the Ice Age, the mountains were heavily glaciated. Witness to give a deep valley with the broad valley bottoms. The numerous small cirque lakes are a result of previous glaciation. Today, the area is gletscherlos, but is considered the most lakes mountain range in the eastern Alps.

Historical

In the Middle Ages and up to the beginning of the 19th century Tauern metal ores were promoted (iron, copper, lead, nickel, silver ) in the Schladming and Wölzer. Old mine shafts can be seen at Schladming and Oberzeiring today.

At the time of the Counter-Reformation, especially the area around Schladming served as one of the last refuges of luther loyal farmers, workers and artisans. Even today this area is the one with the highest percentage of evangelical Christians in Austria.

Already in the 19th century began the tourist development of the Lower Tauern. First ascents were on the agenda. Also, high personalities could be lead to the mountain peaks, such as Archduke Johann on the Hochwildstelle ( High Wildstelle ).

The causes of the development was mainly in the construction of the first railway lines through the valleys in the 1860s and the founding of the Austrian Alpine Club in 1862 and the first mountain hut was not until relatively late erected. , 1920, the high Wurzhütte. In the 1950s the tourist development began in modern form - with streets, cable cars, hotels and restaurants. In particular, the north side ( the Radstadt Tauern, Schladming and northern Wölzer Tauern ) was preferred.

Economy and Tourism

The most important economic factor is tourism, where both the summer (hiking, climbing, cycling ) and the winter ( alpine skiing ) are used. Especially the Radstadt and Schladming Tauern mountains are accessible by numerous mountain huts and trails. Also, some long-distance trails lead through the area of the Lower Tauern: the Zentralalpenweg from east to west, the Eisenwurzenweg, the Salzsteigweg and the Styrian circular route from north to south. Especially the foothills in the Enns Valley are accessible by cable cars and ski lifts for downhill skiing, but also the area between Jews Castle, and St. Michael im Lungau. Schladming was with his ski areas Planai and Hauser Kaibling hosted the Alpine Ski World in 1982 and 2013.

Also, Forestry and Serviced operated. At the northeast edge there are also some graphite and magnesite, which are used economically.

The steep steps, which are formed by the valleys of the Lower Tauern Enns valley, are used for small hydro power plants that generate electricity for local needs. Also located in the Wölzer Tauern in Oberzeiring the currently highest wind farm in Europe, the wind park with 13 wind turbines to generate electricity.

A large part of the Low Tauern is NATURA 2000 protected area according to the Birds Directive of the European Union. The highlands of the Wölzer and Seckauer Tauern are reported as Europe reserve since April 2006.