Geography Of Axamer Lizum
The Stubai Alps, which run from the Brenner Pass to the Inn valley, include Axamer Lizum. The ski area spans 1,560–2,340 meters, while the hamlet is located at 880 meters above sea level. Hoadl, a summit with a broad perspective over the neighboring mountains and valleys, is the highest point in the ski area. About forty kilometers of slopes and nine lifts—including a funicular constructed for the 1976 Olympics—make up the ski area. Mostly north-facing slopes guarantee stable and high-quality snow.
The closeness to the Atlantic Ocean and its high alpine altitude affect Axamer Lizum’s climate. The yearly average temperature is 6.5 °C; July has the highest temperature of 18.5 °C and January has the lowest of -5.5 °C. 1,100 mm of precipitation falls on average annually, the bulk of which falls as snow between November and April. Wintertime snow depths of up to 3 m make Axamer Lizum one of Austria’s most snow-sure ski destinations.
Axamer Lizum is characterized by metamorphic rocks including marble, schist, and gneiss. The Alpine orogeny, a process of creating mountains that began some 65 million years ago and is still going strong, produced these rocks when the African and European plates collided. Minerals abundant in the rocks include mica, calcite, quartz, and feldspar, which give them a range of textures and hues. Fossils of extinct marine species like crinoids, brachiopods, and corals are also found in some of the rocks.
Axamer Lizum has characteristic vegetation and animals for the alpine biome, a biological region above the tree line. Mostly grasses, herbs, and shrubs like heather, edelweiss, gentian, and alpine rose make up the flora. Mammals like chamois, marmot, hare, and fox; birds including eagle, raven, and grouse; and reptiles including lizard and viper are all part of the fauna. The fauna in the high mountains is used to the extremes of cold, severe winds, and little food.
Location
Axamer Lizum is a town in the Tyrol region of western Austria. About 19 kilometres to the southwest is Innsbruck, the fifth-biggest city in Austria and the capital of Tyrol. It is also conveniently reachable from many directions because of its proximity to the borders with Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
Geographical Position
The Stubai Alps, which run from the Brenner Pass in the south to the Inn Valley in the north, include Axamer Lizum in its northern section.The Kalkkögel subgroup of the Stubai Alps, which is distinguished by its craggy, limestone and dolomite summits, includes Axamer Lizum.Because it has resemblance to the well-known Dolomites in South Tyrol, the Kalkkögel subgroup is frequently referred to as the “North Tyrolean Dolomites”.
Axamer Lizum is between 1,560 and 2,340 meters above sea level and has coordinates 47°11′45″N 11°18′05″E.About 300 individuals live in the roughly 40 square kilometer town.
Neighboring Regions
Numerous surrounding areas of Axamer Lizum provide tourists with a variety of sights and activities. Of the most well-known are:
- Axams: Approximately 7 kilometers northeast of the hamlet, Axams is the municipality to which Axamer Lizum is a part. Popular tourist location featuring a range of cultural and leisure amenities, including the Leisure Centre Axams, which has a skating rink, a sauna, an indoor and outdoor pool, and a fitness centre. Axams is steeped in history and custom as well; it is the cradle of the renowned Axamer Carnival, a vibrant and joyous occasion held every four years.
- Innsbruck: At almost 130,000 inhabitants, Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and the fifth-biggest city in Austria. About 19 kilometres northeast of Axamer Lizum, it is conveniently accessible by vehicle or public transportation. Against a breathtaking mountain background, Innsbruck is a thriving and varied cultural and commercial center. Among the many sights and activities it provides are the Golden Roof, the Imperial Palace, the Ambras Castle, the Alpine Zoo, the Bergisel Ski Jump, the Nordkette Cable Car, and the Swarovski Crystal Worlds. Because it staged the Winter Olympics three times—in 1964, 1976, and 2012 (the Youth Olympics)—Innsbruck is also a well-known winter sports destination.
- Stubai Valley: The primary valley of the Stubai Alps, the Stubai Valley runs from the Brenner Pass in the south to the Inn Valley in the north. About 20 kilometers south of Axamer Lizum, it is reachable by bus or vehicle. With so many different scenery and outdoor pursuits including hiking, climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, paragliding, and rafting, the Stubai Valley is a naturalist’s dream come true. The biggest glacier ski area in Austria, the Stubai Glacier, is also located in the Stubai Valley and is accessible year round.
Access Points
By several forms of transportation, Axamer Lizum is well connected to the rest of the area and the nation. Driving from two separate ways, the A12 highway links Innsbruck with Germany and Switzerland over the Inn Valley; the A13 motorway connects Innsbruck with Italy by the Brenner Pass. Ten kilometers or so separate the settlement from Kematen, the exit for Axamer Lizum. A picturesque route that goes via Axams and Birgitz then leads to the settlement. Winter tire and snow chains are advised even if the road is kept up and snow-cleared.
Terrain and Topography
Axamer Lizum’s alpine setting and geological past are reflected in its varied and intricate topography and terrain. Situated on a high plateau surrounded by deep and narrow valleys, glacial and river characteristics, and steep and rocky mountain ranges are the settlement and the ski region.
Mountain Ranges
Axamer Lizum is mostly dominated by the Kalkkögel, a subdivision of the Stubai Alps. About 200 million years ago, in the Triassic period, ancient sea creatures sedimented and compressed to create the limestone and dolomite rocks that make up the Kalkkögel. Its sharp, spiky peaks, which resemble needles and towers, define the Kalkkögel and contrast sharply with the verdant fields and woodlands below. Additionally well-known are the karst features of the Kalkkögel, which include springs, sinkholes, and caves created by water erosion and breakdown of the soluble rocks.
About 25 kilometres long and 10 km wide, the Kalkkögel range stretches from the Sellrain Valley in the west to the Wipptal Valley in the eastern. Standing 2,804 meters above sea level, the Schlicker Seespitze is the range’s highest point. Subgroups within the Kalkkögel include the Axamer Kögele, the Birgitzköpfl, the Hoadl, the Nockspitze, and the Saile. Ski runs, hiking paths, climbing routes, and vistas are just a few of the unique characteristics and draws of each subgroup.
Key Mountain Peaks
Key mountain peaks in or close to Axamer Lizum include the following:
- Hoadl: Rising to 2,340 metres above sea level, the Hoadl is the highest point in the Axamer Lizum ski region and the second-highest mountain in the Kalkkögel range. Accessible by the Olympiabahn funicular, which was constructed for the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, the Hoadl provides a wonderful perspective over the surrounding mountains and valleys. With so many difficult and diverse slopes, including the Olympic run, the Hoadl North, and the Hoadl South, the Hoadl is a much-liked destination for skiers and snowboarders as well.
- Nockspitze: Rising to 2,404 metres above sea level, the Nockspitze, often referred to as the Saile, is the most noticeable and third-highest peak in the Kalkkögel range. Its pyramidal form and high, frequently snow-covered north face make the Nockspitze visible from Innsbruck and the Inn Valley. The typical path, the north ridge, and the west ridge are only a few of the ways of varying lengths and difficulty that hikers and climbers often visit the Nockspitze.
- Birgitzköpfl: Rising to a height of 1,982 metres above sea level, this mountain peak is situated between the villages of Götzens and Axamer Lizum. Being the scene of several fights during the Tyrolean Rebellion and the Napoleonic Wars, the Birgitzköpfl is a historical and cultural monument. It also has a war-related museum and a memorial cross. A ski lift and a toboggan slide, together with a panoramic view of the Inn Valley and the Stubai Alps, make the Birgitzköpfl a picturesque and leisurely location as well.
Notable Summits
Several prominent peaks in or close to Axamer Lizum include:
- Pleisen: South of Axamer Lizum, the Pleisen is a mountain peak rising to a height of 2,569 meters above sea level. Given its lengthy and steep climb, which calls for both equipment and high endurance, the Pleisen is a demanding but rewarding destination for hikers and climbers. The Pleisen features a mountain hut, the Pleisenhütte, that offers lodging and refreshments together with a breathtaking view of the Stubai Glacier and the Kalkkögel range.
- Marchreisenspitze: Rising to a height of 2,620 metres above sea level, the Marchreisenspitze is a mountain summit east of Axamer Lizum. With its exposed and rough terrain, which calls for experience and care, the Marchreisenspitze is a far-off and thrilling place for hikers and climbers. A unique and stunning sight in the Kalkkögel range, the Marchreisensee is a little lake on the Marchreisenspitze that provides a breathtaking perspective over the Wipptal Valley and the Zillertal Alps.
- Schaflegerkogel: Rising to a height of 2,405 metres above sea level, the Schaflegerkogel is a mountain peak located west of Axamer Lizum. The Schaflegerkogel is a family-friendly, mildly sloping hiker and climber’s paradise. There is a mountain hut, the Potsdamer Hütte, atop the Schaflegerkogel that offers food and lodging together with a stunning view over the Sellrain Valley and the Ötztal Alps.
Geological Features
Within or close to Axamer Lizum are the following geological features:
- Glaciers: Glaciers are accumulations of ice and snow that, because of gravity and climate, migrate over the earth. Because glaciers carry, deposit, and dissolve rocks and sediments, they are the ones that shape and change the terrain. Because they hold and release water in various forms and seasons, glaciers are significant water sources as well. Several glaciers are close to Axamer Lizum; they are situated in the southern Stubai Alps and include the Stubai Glacier, the Sulztal Glacier, and the Gschnitztal Glacier. Among the biggest and most approachable glaciers in Austria, these ones provide a distinctive and breathtaking landscape together with a plethora of skiing, hiking, and sightseeing possibilities.
- Moraines: Along their borders or at their termini, glaciers transport and deposit boulders and sediments that build up into mounds. Because moraines delineate the glaciers’ bounds and orientations, they are markers of their size and movement. Because moraines offer food and shelter, they are also homes to a variety of flora and animals. Several moraines, including the Hoadl, Nockspitze, and Birgitzköpfl moraines, are situated in Axamer Lizum and run along the ridges and slopes of the Kalkkögel range. Because they create mounds and ridges of various sizes and forms that contrast with the surrounding terrain, these moraines are obvious and striking characteristics.
