Geography Of Achenkirch

Achenkirch is a town in the Schwaz area of Tyrol, Austria. It is part of the Achensee region, which has five towns: Achenkirch, Eben am Achensee, Maurach, Pertisau, and Steinberg am Rofan.

Achenkirch is 916 meters above sea level, on the north side of Lake Achensee. The lake is 9.4 km long, 1.1 km wide, and 133 meters deep – the biggest and deepest lake in Tyrol. Two streams feed the lake: Achenbach and Dalfazbach. The water flows out through the Achensee canal into the Inn river.

Achenkirch borders the German state of Bavaria to the north. To the east are the Tyrolean towns Eben am Achensee and Steinberg am Rofan. To the south is Wiesing, and to the west is Brandenberg.

Access Points

Getting to Achenkirch is easy by different transport types. The closest airport is Innsbruck Airport, around 60 km away. From there, take a train, bus, or taxi to Achenkirch. Or, fly to Munich Airport, about 120 km away, then take a train or bus. Driving? Take the A12 highway, exit at Wiesing, follow B181 road to Achenkirch. For trains, take a regional one to Jenbach, then transfer to the Achensee steam cog railway, reaching the lake’s south end. From there, get a bus or boat to Achenkirch. For buses, take regional line 8320 from Innsbruck or 9550 from Munich, directly to Achenkirch.

Terrain and Topography

Achenkirch has different kinds of land and mountains. It has flat and green valley floors. It also has steep and rough mountain sides. The whole area covers 113.95 square kilometers. Nearly half of the area is forests. Around 28.6% is alpine pasture. About 10.9% is water. Agricultural land takes up 7.4%. Built-up areas make up 5.3%. The highest point is Bärenkopf mountain peak at 1,991 meters. The lowest point is the lake surface at 929 meters.

Mountain Ranges

Achenkirch is surrounded by several mountain ranges which belong to the Northern Limestone Alps. To the north lies the Karwendel range, the biggest protected area in the Eastern Alps and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Eastward is the Rofan range, renowned for its distinctive rock shapes and panoramic vistas. Southward stretches the Brandenberg Alps, characterized by gentle hills and green meadows. To the west, the Kitzbühel Alps are famous for ski resorts and winter sports.

Key Mountain Peaks

Some key mountain peaks in Achenkirch are:

Bärenkopf (1,991 m): The highest peak offers stunning views of the lake and surroundings. It’s accessible via cable car from Maurach or hiking trail from Achenkirch.
Seekarspitze (2,053 m): Highest in the Rofan range, a popular hiking spot. Reachable by cable car from Pertisau or trail from Achenkirch.
Unnütz (2,077 m): Four peaks in the Rofan range, named for agricultural uselessness but attractive for mountaineering with challenging climbs and spectacular views.
Guffert (2,195 m): A prominent Brandenberg Alps peak dominating Achenkirch’s skyline. Accessible via hiking trail from Achenkirch or Steinberg am Rofan.

Notable Summits

Some of the notable summits in Achenkirch are:

Hochplatte (1,818 m): A scenic peak in the Karwendel range. It overlooks the northern part of the lake. You can hike to it from Achenkirch or the Christlum ski area.
Riederberg (1,767 m): A panoramic summit in the Rofan range. It provides views of the lake and Inn valley. Hiking trails lead to it from Achenkirch or the Rofan cable car station.
Ebner Joch (1,957 m): A scenic peak in the Brandenberg Alps. It offers views of the lake and Zillertal Alps. Hiking trails reach it from Achenkirch or Brandenberg.

Valleys and Basins

Achenkirch is situated in the Achental valley. The valley goes from the north side of the lake to the border with Bavaria. The Achenbach stream divides the valley into two sections. The western part is Achenkirch, and the eastern part is Achenwald. Mountains surround the valley, forming a natural basin.

Some prominent valleys near Achenkirch are:

Steinberger Tal: This valley is part of the Achental. It leads to Steinberg am Rofan village. The valley has beautiful scenery, cultural heritage, and hiking trails.
Falzthurntal: Part of the Achental valley. It goes to Gramai Alm, a popular alpine pasture and restaurant area. This valley has natural beauty, wildlife, and cross-country skiing trails.
Gerntal: Another side valley of Achental. It leads to Gernalm, an alpine pasture and restaurant. People visit for scenic views, plants and animals, and mountain biking trails.

Bodies of Water

Achenkirch has some beautiful bodies of water. Here are a few examples:

Lake Achensee: Lake Achensee is the largest and deepest lake in Tyrol. People enjoy water sports like swimming, sailing, surfing, diving, fishing, and boating there. The lake has a pretty shoreline for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
Achenbach: Achenbach is a stream that flows into the lake from the west. It passes through Achenkirch village. The stream has clear, cold water. People raft, kayak, and canoe there.
Dalfazbach: Dalfazbach flows into the lake from the east. It goes by Achenwald village. This stream has an awesome waterfall. You can hike to it from Achenkirch or the Rofan cable car station.