Geography Of Flachau
Flachau is a town in the northern region of Salzburg state, in the St. Johann im Pongau district. Situated 920 meters above sea level in the upper Enns valley. At 117.25 square kilometers, Flachau is the biggest municipality in the district. The following towns abut Flachau: Altenmarkt im Pongau, Eben im Pongau, Filzmoos, Forstau, Radstadt, Sankt Martin am Tennengebirge, Untertauern, Wagrain.
Flachau is encircled by the Salzburg Slate Alps and the Niedere Tauern mountains in the Alpine region. Standing at 2,051 meters, the Lackenkogel is the highest point in the municipality. The Rossbrand (1,768 metres), the Grießenkareck (1,991 metres), and the Griessenkar (1,650 metres) are more noteworthy mountains. The west to east flowing Enns river crosses Flachau. Being a tributary of the Danube, the Enns is the longest river that starts and finishes in Austria. Further minor streams in Flachau include the Zauchensee Ache, the Reitdorfer Ache, and the Flachauer Ache. Lakes in Flachau include the Zauchensee, Rohrsee, Reitecksee, Flachauwinklsee, and Rohrsee.
Flachau experiences warm summers and chilly winters typical of a continental region. Annual precipitation is 1,182 mm and the average temperature is 6.4 °C. At an average of -3.5 °C, January is the coldest month and 16.1 °C, July, the hottest. At 157 mm on average, August is the wettest month; February is the driest, at 63 mm. The average year in Flachau has 1,700 hours of sunlight and 142 days of snow cover.
Location
Flachau is a town in the state of Salzburg, in the Pongau region. About 30 kilometers separate it from Zell am See and 70 kilometers separate it from Salzburg.117.25 km³ in surface area, Flachau is 920 meters above sea level.
Within the eastern Alps, Flachau is situated in the northern part of the Hohe Tauern mountain range. Situated in the valley of Flachau, a tributary of the valley of Enns. The Flachau valley runs west to east parallel to the main Alps crest.The Roßbrand (1,768 m), Grießenkareck (1,991 m), and Lackenkogel (2,051 m) are only a few of the mountain peaks around Flachau.
To the west are Kleinarl and Wagrain; to the south are Flachauwinkl and Zauchensee; to the east are Radstadt and Forstau; and to the north are Altenmarkt im Pongau and Eben im Pongau.
Flachau is readily accessible by automobile, train, and plane. The A10 highway, also referred to as the Tauern Autobahn, crosses the Flachau valley and connects Flachau to Salzburg and Villach. Further connecting Flachau to Schladming and Radstadt is the B163 road. An Enns Valley Railway station links Flachau to Bischofshofen and Selzthal.Salzburg Airport is the nearest airport to Flachau, located around 60 kilometers apart.
Terrain and Topography
Flachau has a varied terrain and topography, ranging from flat meadows and pastures to steep slopes and rocky cliffs. The Flachau valley is a glacial valley, carved by the Enns glacier during the last ice age. The valley floor is mostly covered by grassland, farms, and villages, while the valley sides are forested and dotted with alpine huts and ski lifts. The valley is flanked by two mountain ranges: the Radstädter Tauern to the south, and the Salzburg Slate Alps to the north. The highest point in Flachau is the Lackenkogel, which is part of the Radstädter Tauern. The lowest point is the Enns river, which flows through the Flachau valley at an altitude of about 850 m.
Mountain Ranges
Radstädter Tauern and Salzburg Slate Alps include Flachau. Radstädter Tauern is the division of the Hohe Tauern, the highest mountain range in Austria. With towering peaks, snowfields, and glaciers, they have the typical alpine landscape. They consist of gneiss and granite, two crystalline rocks. Part of the Northern Limestone Alps, the Salzburg Slate Alps are composed of sedimentary rocks including limestone and shale. They have more gently rounded outlines with grass-covered slopes and plateaus.
Important mountain summits in Flachau consist of the following:
- Lackenkogel (2,051 m): Lackenkogel, standing at 2,051 meters, is the tallest mountain in Flachau and the second-highest peak in the Radstädter Tauern. A popular hiking and skiing spot, it offers a wide perspective over the Flachau valley and the neighboring mountains.
- Grießenkareck (1,991 m): Base of the Flachau-Wagrain ski area, Grießenkareck (1,991 m) is the main ski mountain in Flachau. A cable car and many ski lifts are elements of this wintertime venue for the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s competition.
- Roßbrand (1,768 m): Beautifully situated in the Salzburg Slate Alps, Roßbrand (1,768 m) is a popular spot for hiking and paragliding. The Bischofsmütze and the Dachstein range are breathtakingly visible from its panoramic road and mountain inn.
Notable Summits
Flachau has the following notable peaks:
- Strimskogel (2,140 m): Situated in the Radstädter Tauern, Strimskogel is the highest peak in the Flachauwinkl-Zauchensee ski area at 2,140 meters. A stunning vista of the Niedere and Hohe Tauern awaits experienced climbers who successfully complete this difficult climb.
- Frauenalm (1,860 m): Popular for hiking and riding in the Salzburg Slate Alps is Frauenalm (1,860 m). A beautiful summit it is. With a chapel and a mountain chalet, it looks out over the valleys of Flachau and Enns.
- Mooskopf (1,480 m): Low in the Salzburg Slate Alps, Mooskopf (1,480 m) is a popular hiking destination for families. Along with views of the Flachau valley and the Grießenkareck, it has a playground.
Valleys and Basins
Flachau is a town in the Flachau valley, a tributary of the Enns basin. About 2 km wide, the Flachau valley is around 15 km long. Flachau, Flachauwinkl and Reitdorf are its three divisions. The administrative heart and principal settlement of the municipality is Flachau. At the southern end of the valley is the ski resort and tiny community of Flachauwinkl. At the northern end of the valley is Reitdorf, a hamlet and agricultural region.
Flachau includes the following well-known valleys:
- Zauchensee: Zauchensee is a ski resort and little alpine lake situated in a side valley of the Flachau valley. Included in the Flachauwinkl-Zauchensee ski region, it is the site of the yearly men’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.
- Höch: A hamlet and historical place situated in a Flachau river side valley. The Counts of Goldegg lived at the 13th-century Schloss Höch on this location.
- Kleinarl: A ski resort and community situated in a side valley of the Flachau valley is Kleinarl. It is a part of the ski region Flachau-Wagrain-Kleinarl and is the birthplace of ski legend Annemarie Moser-Pröll.
Bodies of Water
Water bodies in Flachau include lakes, rivers, and streams. They give the tourists recreational chances and enhance the beauty and variety of the surroundings.
Lakes
There are the following lakes in Flachau:
- Zauchensee: Small alpine lake Zauchensee is situated in a Flachau river side valley. The highest depth of this 0.32 km2 surface area is 15 meters. Included in the Flachauwinkl-Zauchensee ski region, it is the site of the yearly men’s Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup.
- Reitecksee: Reitecksee is a little man-made lake close to the Reitdorf hamlet. The highest depth of this 0.02 km2 surface area is 4 m. Summertime activities include boating, swimming, and fishing; in the winter, ice skating is popular.
- Jägersee: In a side valley of the Flachau valley is Jägersee, a little natural lake. Its maximum depth is three metres and its surface area is 0.01 km2. A playground and café are features of this picturesque hiking and biking location.
Rivers and Streams
There are the following rivers and streams in Flachau:
- Enns: The principal river in Flachau, Enns is also the longest Danube tributary in Austria. Flowing from west to east across the Flachau valley, it is 254 kilometers long. River sports like fishing, kayaking, and rafting are quite popular on it.
- Flachauer Ache: an Enns tributary and little brook in Flachau. It is fifteen km long and runs across the Flachau valley from south to north. Hiking, biking and picnics are all possible along this picturesque stream.
- Zauchbach: A little brook near Flachau, Zauchbach is a tributary of the Flachauer Ache. It is five km long and runs through the Zauchensee valley from south to north. A lovely stream for snowshoeing, skiing, and strolling.
Scenic Views
Picturesque views of Flachau include:
- The Flachau Panorama is a panoramic view of the Flachau valley and the neighboring mountains taken from the top of the Grießenkareck. The Dachstein massif, the Salzburg Slate Alps, and the Radstädter Tauern are all breathtakingly visible from this cable car or hiking trail.
- The Roßbrand Panorama is a broad vista of the eastern Alps seen from the Roßbrand top. Reached by hiking trail or panoramic road, it provides a breathtaking view of the Dachstein mountain, the Bischofsmütze, and the Hochkönig.
- One may see the Hohe Tauern in its whole from the Lackenkogel peak. Reached by a difficult climb or ski trip, the reward is an amazing view of the Grossglockner, the Ankogel, and the Grossvenediger.
