Geography Of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer is a municipality in Salzburg, Austria, located in the Zell am See region. Located in the valley of the Urslau stream, a tributary of the Saalach river, in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg. The valley lies between the shale Salzburg Alps to the south and the Steinernes Meer mountain range and the Hochkönig massif (a component of the Berchtesgaden Alps). .
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer runs on the road to Bischofshofen, about 5 kilometers east of Saalfelden. Rising 802 m (2,631 ft) above sea level, the municipal area is 125.43 km 2 (48.43 sq mi). The municipal population in 2018 was 2,197 inhabitants.
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer lies in the Eastern Alps, a major mountain range in Central Europe. Among the various subgroups into which the Eastern Alps are divided are the Northern Limestone Alps, the Eastern Central Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer lies among the northern limestone Alps, defined by its mainly limestone and dolomite minerals, which provide rocky peaks and karst settings.
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer demarcates the following municipalities and areas:
- Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer to the west
- Dienten am Hochkönig and Mühlbach am Hochkönig to the east
- Sankt Martin bei Lofer and Weißbach bei Lofer to the north
- Leogang and Saalbach-Hinterglemm to the south
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer can be reached by various means of transportation, such as:
- By car: The B164 Hochkönigstraße road connects Saalfelden and Bischofshofen, allowing car access to the municipality. The closest motorway is the A10 Tauern motorway, which can be reached either via the B311 Pinzgauer Straße road in Zell am See or the B159 Salzachtal Straße road in Bischofshofen.
- By train: Serving regional trains on the Salzburg S-Bahn network as well as the ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways), Saalfelden is the closest train station. Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer can be reached by bus from Saalfelden.
- By plane: Salzburg Airport, approximately 70 km (43 mi) away, is the closest airport to Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. From Salzburg, there are bus and train connections to Saalfelden; from there to Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer.
Terrain and Topography
From the modest slopes and meadows of the valley to the steep cliffs and glaciers of the mountains, Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer presents a varied morphology and landscape. The municipality includes four cadastral communities: Aberg, Alm, Hinterthal and Winkl. The lowest point in the commune is the Urslau stream of 750 m (2,460 ft); the highest point is the 2,941 m (9,649 ft) summit of Hochkönig.
Mountain Ranges
The Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer is surrounded by the Salzburg Schist Alps and Steinernes Meer.
- The Steinernes Meer, which means “sea of rocks”, is a high plateau in the Berchtesgaden Alps extending from the Hochkönig massif in the east to the Watzmann massif in the west. Made up of limestone rocks and dolomites, the Steinernes Meer is a karst environment characterized by numerous caves, sinkholes and springs. Hikers, climbers and skiers as well as pilgrims traveling across the plateau to visit St. Bartholomew’s Church on Lake Königssee frequent the Steinernes Meer.
- Comprising a subset of the Northern Limestone Alps, the Salzburg Shale Alps lie south of the Steinernes Meer phyllite and slate minerals making up the Salzburg Shale Alps, resulting in rounded peaks and gentle slopes that arise from their composition. Although less often seen by visitors than the Steinernes Meer, the Salzburg Slate Alps offer magnificent panoramas and hiking trails.
Key Mountain Peaks
There are several notable mountain peaks in Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer, including:
- Translated as “High King”, the Hochkönig is the highest and most important mountain in the Berchtesgaden Alps and the highest point in the municipality of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. The three main peaks of the Hochkönig are Matrashaus (2,941 m), Torsäule (2,582 m) and Hochseiler (2,793 m). The Hochkönig is a demanding peak for climbers that requires both technical knowledge and suitable equipment. The High King Mountain ski area also includes the Hochkönig massif and the adjacent towns of Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach.
- Translated as “Swallow Wall,” the summit of the Schwalbenwand in the Salzburg Slate Alps lies south of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. Rising to 2,011 m (6,598 ft), the Schwalbenwand offers a panoramic perspective of the nearby mountains and valleys. Due to the numerous trails and routes leading to the summit, the Schwalbenwand is a popular place for mountain bikers and hikers.
- Translated as “Dog Stone”, Hundstein Peak lies in the Salzburg Shale Alps, a little southwest of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. Standing at 2,117 m (6,946 ft), Hundstein is the highest mountain in the Salzburg Shale Alps. An ancient religious site where a stone altar and a bronze dog figure were discovered is also the Hundstein. For hikers and cyclists, the sought-after Hundstein offers a range of trails and routes leading to the summit.
Valleys and Basins
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer has several valleys and basins that are worth mentioning, such as:
- The main valley of the municipality, the Urslau valley, receives the watercourse from the Steinernes Meer to the Saalach river. In the Urslau Valley are the High King Mountain ski area as well as the communities of Maria Alm, Aberg and Hinterthal.
- A subsidiary valley of the Urslau Valley, the Winkl Valley sees the Winkl Stream falling from the Salzburg Shale Alps to the Urslau Stream. The village of Winkl as well as various cycle and walking paths are located in the Winkl valley.
- The Dienten basin is a basin located in the eastern part of the municipality where the Dientenbach stream flows from the Hochkönig mountain to the Urslau stream. The Dienten basin consists of a village and several hiking and ski trails.
Bodies of Water
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer has many notable bodies of water, including:
- Located in the northern part of the municipality, in the Berchtesgaden National Park, the Königssee — literally “King’s Lake” — is a lake. The third deepest lake in Germany, the Königssee has an area of 5.2 km 2 ( 2.0 square miles) and a depth of up to 190 m (620 ft). The thawing of glaciers during the previous ice age gave rise to the glacial lake known as Königssee. Rising mountains surround the calm and beautiful Königssee Lake, which is distinguished by its clean, sparkling waters. From the Königssee offers a boat service to the Saletalm and the St. Bartholomew’s Church, visitors and boaters find it a great pleasure.
- Translated as “Lake Ritzen”, the Ritzensee is a lake located in the western part of the municipality, near the town of Saalfelden. The Ritzensee is an artificial lake created by the construction of a dam on the Urslau watercourse in 1984. Covering 0.06 km2 (0.02 sq mi), the Ritzensee is a recreational lake with a depth of 6 m (20 ft). Due to its beach, lawn and playground, swimmers and sunbathers particularly like the Ritzensee. Since the Ritzensee freezes, curlers and skaters also frequent it in winter.
Lakes
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer also has other important rivers:
- Located near the German border, Eibsee (in reality “Lac d’If”) is a lagoon located in the northern part of the municipality. Created by the melting of glaciers during the previous ice age, the Eibsee is a glacial lake. Made up of turquoise waters and surrounded by rich trees, the Eibsee is a calm and charming lake. Hikers and motorcyclists particularly enjoy the Eibsee, as Germany’s highest point, the Zugspitze, is visible from the circular route around the lake.
- The Zeller See (in reality “Zell Lake”) is located in the southern part of the municipality, near the town of Zell am See. Created by melting glaciers during the last ice age, Zeller See is a glacial lake. Blue water and brightly colored buildings define the Zeller See, a dynamic lake. Water sports and nightlife enthusiasts frequent Zeller See as it offers a wide range of events like meetings, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
Rivers and Streams
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer has several notable rivers and streams, including:
- Connecting the Steinernes Meer to the Saalach river, the Urslau stream (German: Urslau) meanders through the municipality. The Urslau is the main water supply for the commune; it provides drinking water as well as agricultural water. Throughout its course, the Urslau generates several waterfalls and cascades, thus naturally attracting too.
- The western limit of the municipality is formed by the Saalach, German: Saalach, river which flows from the Kitzbühel Alps to the Salzach river. The Saalach is a stream of the Inn River, a tributary of the Danube. The Saalach is also a recreational site with plenty of opportunities for rafting, kayaking and angling.
Scenic Views
Some of the picturesque views of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer include:
- Featuring panoramic views of the Steinernes Meer and the Hochkönig mountain located at the top of the Aberg cable car, the Aberg Panorama (German: Aberg Panorama) is a wonderful and astonishing view from a 360-degree viewpoint over the peaceful valley. and the great mountains. Skiers and hikers enjoy Aberg Panorama because it offers a ski slope and route to the summit of the Schwalbenwand.
- At the edge of the town of Hinterthal there is a panoramic view of the Dienten basin and the Hochkönig massif. The astonishing and breathtaking view of Hinterthal contrasts sharply between the frozen peaks and the rich meadows. Popular with bikers and photographers, the Hinterthal View offers an equestrian trail and photo spot that perfectly illustrate the grandeur of the surrounding area.
