Geography Of Bad Hofgastein
Bad Hofgastein is a town in the Salzburg-Umgebung administrative area, specifically in the historic Pongau District. About 85 km separate it from Salzburg, the state capital.As of 2018, the town’s population was 6,914 and its area was 103.72 km².
In the upper Gastein Valley, which traces the path of the Gastein Ache brook, is Bad Hofgastein. The Hohe Tauern Ankogel Group is to the east and the Goldberg Group to the west separated by the valley. The valley rises to the Alpine divide and the Carinthian border from the large Salzach Valley at Lend. Around midway between Dorfgastein in the north and Bad Gastein in the south is Bad Hofgastein.Elevation of it is 859 meters above sea level.
The following communities border Bad Hofgastein: Mallnitz and Obervellach in Carinthia to the east, Rauris and Fusch a der Großglocknerstraße to the west, Bad Gastein and Großarl to the south.
There are three modes of transportation to reach Bad Hofgastein: road, train and air. Running across the valley, the Gastein Road (B167) links the town to the Tauern Autobahn (A10). A railway station on the Tauern Railway line, which links Salzburg with Villach and Klagenfurt, is also located in the town.About 90 kilometers north are Salzburg Airport (SZG) and 150 kilometers south are Klagenfurt Airport (KLU).
Terrain and Topography
Two significant mountain ranges, the Goldberg Group and the Hohe Tauern, border Bad Hofgastein. The Grossglockner, at 3,798 m, is the highest mountain in Austria; the Grossvenediger, at 3,674 m, is the fourth highest. These are only two of the most well-known summits in the Hohe Tauern. Nestled west of the Gastein Valley, the Sonnblick (3,106 m) is the highest peak in the Goldberg Group, a subrange of the Hohe Tauern.
Key Mountain Peaks
Key mountain peaks seen from Bad Hofgastein include the following:
- The second highest summit in the Goldberg Group and the highest in the municipal area is Schareck (3,122 m). Hiking and ski touring are common sports there.
- Stubnerkogel (2,246 m): A well-known summit with sweeping views of the valley and the neighboring Alps, it overlooks the town of Bad Gastein. At the top is a 140 m long suspension bridge that is reachable via cable car.
- The highest peak in Europe covered with grass, Gamskarkogel (2,467 m), is a Gastein Valley icon. Its peak features a mountain chalet and is situated east of the valley.
- Popular ski area Schlossalm (2,050 m) links Bad Hofgastein with Bad Gastein. With the longest downhill slope in the Eastern Alps (10.4 km), it is the biggest connected ski area in the region.
Notable Summits
Reachable from Bad Hofgastein are a few noteworthy summits:
- The difficult peak of Graukogel (2,492 m) provides breathtaking views of the Hohe Tauern and the Gastein Valley. It is reached from Bad Hofgastein by a hiking track and from Bad Gastein by cable car.
- Zittrauertisch (2,462 m) is an Ankogel Group peak situated on the Carinthian border. One may walk there from the Angertal valley.
- Tagkopf (2,315 m) West of the valley, this somewhat simple peak is a member of the Goldberg Group. One may walk there from the Schlossalm ski area.
Valleys and Basins
Bad Hofgastein is situated in the Gastein Valley, one of the Alps’ longest and most exquisite valleys. About 40 kilometers long and 10 km wide is the valley. The top, middle and lower valleys make up its three portions. The Gastein Ache cascades across a canyon and creates many waterfalls in the upper valley, which is the narrowest and steepest section. The cities of Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein are situated in the middle valley, the largest and most inhabited section. Dorfgastein and Lend are located in the most open and mild section of the valley, the lower valley.
The following little valleys and basins round the Gastein Valley:
- A subsidiary valley called Angertal separates from the Gastein Valley to the south of Bad Hofgastein. Stubnerkogel and Schareck access make it a well-liked winter sports and hiking destination.
- At the extremity of the Gastein Valley, on the Carinthian border, is the high alpine basin known as Nassfeld. It is a natural reserve and the beginning point of a number of mountain hikes, including those to the Hochalmspitze and the Ankogel.
- Kötschachtal: South of Bad Gastein, a side valley separates from the Gastein Valley. The Graukogel and the Zirbenwald, the biggest Swiss pine forest in the Eastern Alps, are reached via this picturesque valley.
Bodies of Water
Lakes
- A little alpine lake, Bockhartsee is situated at the base of the Paleozoic Bockhartsee conglomerate. Alpine flowers and Swiss pines ring the turquoise-colored lake. One may hike there from the Kötschachtal valley.
- Small alpine lake Reedsee is located in the Nassfeld basin, close to the Carinthian border. The Schareck glacier meltwater supplies the green lake. One may hike there from the Sportgastein ski area.
- Gasteiner See: A little manmade lake close to Lend in the lower Gastein Valley. 1969 saw the construction of the lake by damming the Gastein Ache. Fishing and hydroelectric power generating are its two uses.
Rivers and Streams
Numerous streams and rivers that run through the valley of Bad Hofgastein supply energy, water, and leisure. High quality water is supplied to the rivers and streams by the mountains’ snowfall and rainfall. In Bad Hofgastein, one may observe the following rivers and streams:
- Main river through the Gastein Valley is called Gasteiner Ache. It rises in the Hohe Tauern glaciers and, near Lend, meets the Salzach. About 50 km long, it has a 1,000 km2 catchment area. Along the way it creates a number of pools, rapids, and waterfalls. Fish species include trout, grayling, and char also find home there.
- Angertal valley tributary of the Gastein Ache, Acheleitenbach. About 10 kilometers long, it has a 40 km2 catchment area. It creates the 200 meter high Angertal waterfall, which is visible from the Angertal ski resort.
- Nassfelder Ache is a Nassfeld basin tributary of the Gastein Ache. About 15 kilometers long, it has an 80 km2 catchment area. It creates the 100 meter high Nassfeld waterfall, which is close to the Nassfelder lodge.
- Kötschachbach: A flowing via the Kötschachtal valley tributary of the Gastein Ache. About 12 kilometers long, it has a 50 km2 catchment area. It creates the 70 m high Kötschach waterfall, which is close to the Graukogel cable car station.
- Anlaufbach: Anlauf valley tributary of the Gastein Ache. About 8 kilometers long, it has a 30 km2 catchment area. It creates the 60 m high Anlauf waterfall, which is close to the cable car station at Stubnerkogel.
Scenic Views
- Main river in the Gastein Valley is called Gastein Ache. It rises in the Hohe Tauern glaciers and, near Lend, meets the Salzach. About 50 km long, it has a 1,000 km2 catchment area. Along the way it creates a number of pools, rapids, and waterfalls. Fish species include trout, grayling, and char also find home there.
- Angertal valley tributary of the Gastein Ache, Acheleitenbach. About 10 kilometers long, it has a 40 km2 catchment area. It creates the 200 meter high Angertal waterfall, which is visible from the Angertal ski resort.
- Nassfelder Ache is a Nassfeld basin tributary of the Gastein Ache. About 15 kilometers long, it has an 80 km2 catchment area. It creates the 100 meter high Nassfeld waterfall, which is close to the Nassfelder lodge.
