Geography Of Rauris

Rauris is a municipality located in the territory of Pinzgau, in the Austrian state of Salzburg. With an area of 253.14 km2 and a population of around 3,150 inhabitants, it is the largest municipality in the province of Salzburg. Rauris is located in the middle of the biodiversity-rich and aesthetically beautiful Hohe Tauern National Park.

Location

Rauris, at the foot of the Sonnblick massif, is located in the Hohe Tauern, the highest part of the Austrian Alps. The Sonnblick Group takes its name from the 3,106 meter high peak, known for housing the world’s oldest meteorological observatory. The main river of the Pinzgau is also present at the Rauris Ache, a tributary of the Salzach.

Rauris is located at longitude 12°59′40′′E and latitude 47°13′45′′N. It is elevated to 550 meters above sea level. From the bottom of the valley to the high Alps, the municipal territory of Rauris extends in places over 3,000 meters. The mountain peak of Rauris influences its temperature, which features mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature is 6.4°C; Average annual precipitation is 1,320 mm.

Rauris has borders with the following areas:

To the north, by the municipality of Taxenbach and the Kitzbühel Alps.
To the east, by the municipality of Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße and the Glockner group, which includes the Großglockner, the highest mountain in Austria.
To the south, by the municipality of Heiligenblut am Großglockner and the Goldberg group, which contains the Hocharn, the highest peak of the Sonnblick group.
To the west, by the municipality of Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße and the Schareck group, another part of the Hohe Tauern.

Rauris can be accessed by various means of transportation, such as:

By road, via the B311 federal highway that runs through the Pinzgau valley and connects Rauris with Zell am See, the district capital, and other towns in the region. Rauris is also connected to the Großglockner High Alpine Road, a scenic route that leads to the Großglockner and the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern.
By rail, via the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, a narrow-gauge railway that operates between Zell am See and Krimml, with a station in Taxenbach, about 10 km north of Rauris. From there, a bus service connects Taxenbach with Rauris and other villages in the valley.
By air, via the Salzburg Airport, the second-largest airport in Austria, located about 90 km northeast of Rauris. From there, a bus or train service can be used to reach Rauris.

Terrain and Topography

The topography and terrain of Rauris is distinguished by its varied landscape, which extends from gentle valley floors to rugged mountain heights. The Rauris Valley is one of the small, permanently inhabited valleys in the Tauern. Its width is 4 km and its length is approximately 30 km. The Rauriser Ache divides the valley into the lower Oberland and the upper Oberland. The upper valley is steeper and narrower than the lower valley; it also benefits from a higher altitude. Lower in altitude, the lower valley is also flatter and larger. In addition to several mountain ranges included in the Hohe Tauern, the mountain groups Sonnblick, Schareck, Goldberg and Glockner surround the valley. With an average elevation of almost 2,500 meters, some of these mountain ranges rise to over 3,000 meters. The mountains include rocks of all kinds, including gneiss, granite, slate and limestone. The mountains have also been sculpted by the erosion of glaciers; This results in features including cirques, horns, ridges and moraines.

Mountain Ranges

Terrain and Topography

The mountain ranges that border the valley of Rauris are:

The Sonnblick group extends to the south and southeast of the valley. Named after the Sonnblick, the 3,106 meter peak which dominates the group and has a weather observatory. The highest peak of the Sonnblick group is the Silberpfennig (2,600 m), followed by the Hohe Riffl (3,338 m), the Schareck (3,122 m) and the Hocharn (3,254 m), the second highest peak of the Hohe Tauern.
The Schareck Group extends west and southwest of the valley. Named after the Schareck, the highest peak in the group at 3,122 meters, other heights in the Schareck group include the Großer Hafner (3,076 m), the Kleiter Hafner (3,045 m), the Großer Geiger (3 004 m) and the Großer Hundstod (2,946 m).
The Goldberg group inhabits the southern and southwest parts of the valley. Named after the Goldberg, the highest peak in the group at 2,649 meters, the Hoher Kasten (2,922 m), the Hoher Tenn (3,368 m), the Hoher Seidlwinkl (2,814 m) and the Hoher Sonnblick (3 106 m) are other peaks of the Goldberg group.
The Glockner Group lies to the southeast and east of the valley. The group’s name comes from the Großglockner, the highest mountain in Austria at 3,798 meters. Other mountains in the Glockner group include Großes Wiesbachhorn (3,564 m), Hohe Dock (3,348 m), Hoher Sandkopf (3,111 m) and Hohe Riffl (3,338 m).

Key Mountain Peaks

Terrain and Topography

Some of the key mountain peaks that can be found in the vicinity of Rauris are:

The summit of the Sonnblick group, at 3,106 meters, is the highest and most visible. Created in 1906 and still in operation, it is known for housing the oldest meteorological observatory in the world. Access to the observatory is from the side valley of the Rauris valley, the Kolm-Saigurn valley, via a cable car. The wide views from the Sonnblick over the Hohe Tauern and the surrounding valleys also attract hikers and mountaineers.
At 3,254 meters, Hocharn is the second highest peak in the Hohe Tauern and the highest peak in the Sonnblick group. Nestled at the southern end of the Rauris Valley, it forms part of the border separating Salzburg from Carinthia. Climbing Hocharn requires alpine knowledge and tools as well as strength. Generally starting from the Rauriser Tauernhaus hut in the Seidlwinkl valley, the path to the summit follows the Hocharn glacier and the south ridge.
Rising to 3,122 meters above sea level, the Schareck group has the highest peak. Located in the far west of the Rauris valley, it is part of the border separating Salzburg from Carinthia. The Schareck summit is accessible by several trails, so climbing this mountain is quite simple. From the Heiligenblut-Schareck cable car station, the most frequently chosen route goes via the north ridge. From the Schareck you have an astonishing perspective on the Sonnblick group and the Großglockner.
Standing at 3,798 meters, the Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria and the highest point of the Glasner group. Located to the east of the Rauris valley, it is part of the border separating Tyrol from Salzburg. With a permanent snow cap and a distinctive shape, the Großglockner is a mountain of great grandeur and legendary reputation. In addition to being difficult and rewarding to climb, this climb requires specific alpine knowledge and tools. Starting from the Franz-Josefs-Höhe, a viewpoint on the Großglockner High Alpine Road, the normal route to the summit leads via the Pasterze Glacier and the Kleinglockner Ridge.

Valleys and Basins

Terrain and Topography

The valleys and basins that can be found in the vicinity of Rauris are:

About 30 km long and 4 km wide, the Rauris valley is the main valley of the commune extending from west to east. The Rauriser Ache divides the Rauris valley into Upper Land (upper valley) and Lower Land (lower valley). The upper valley is steeper and narrower than the lower valley; it also has a higher altitude. Lower in altitude, the lower valley is also flatter and wider. The Rauris Valley has many towns and villages, including Wörth, Bucheben, Markt Rauris, Seidlwinkl and Kolm-Saigurn. The Rauris Valley is also rich in history and culture since, in the Middle Ages, it was a center of gold mining and trading.
Consisting of a side valley of the Rauris valley, the Seidlwinkl valley is approximately 16 km long and 2 km wide. It separates at Wörth towards the south. Narrow and steep, the Seidlwinkl valley rises high. Renowned for its natural beauty and tranquility, the Seidlwinkl Valley is uninhabited and part of the Hohe Tauern National Park. For their breathtaking views of the Großglockner, the Hocharn and the Hoher Tenn, cyclists and hikers also frequent the Seidlwinkl valley. Many mountain trails start from the Seidlwinkl valley, including the Hoher Tenn, the Großglockner high alpine route and the Hocharn.
Stretching almost 8 km in length and 1 km in width, the Kolm-Saigurn valley is another side valley of the Rauris valley that branches off to the southeast at Markt Rauris. The Kolm-Saigurn valley is low, narrow and flat. The Kolm-Saigurn valley is known for its history of gold mining as it was home to the largest gold deposit in the Eastern Alps. Skiers and hikers also frequent the Kolm-Saigurn valley to enjoy the wide views of the Sonnblick, the Silberpfennig and the Schareck. Several mountain trails, including the Sonnblick, Silberpfennig and Schareck cable cars, start from the Kolm-Saigurn valley.
About 10 km long and 1 km wide, the Krumltal valley is a tributary of the Rauris valley. It stands out northeast of Bucheben. The deep, narrow Krumltal valley lies at high altitude. Well known for its biodiversity and wildlife, the Krumltal valley is part of the Hohe Tauern National Park and is home to a large population of bearded vultures, the largest birds of prey in Europe. Hikers and nature lovers also flock to the Krumltal valley to enjoy the pristine surroundings and wide variety of plants and animals. Several mountain trails start from the Krumltal valley, including the Hohe Dock, the Großes Wiesbachhorn and the Hoher Sandkopf.

Bodies of Water

Lakes

Bodies of Water

The lakes that can be found in the vicinity of Rauris are:

Near the village of Wörth in the upper Rauris valley there is a small lake known as Hintersee. The Hintersee is ten meters deep and has an area of approximately 0.1 km2. Natural lakes, glacial erosion produced the Hintersee. The Hintersee is also a popular place for boating and fishing due to its abundance of fish and the availability of boat rentals.
The Grünsee is another small lake located near the village of Bucheben in the upper Rauris valley. The Grünsee is five meters deep and has an area of approximately 0.05 km2. Originally a tributary of the Rauriser Ache, the Krumltaler Ache was dammed to form the artificial lake Grünsee. The Grünsee is a popular swimming and sunbathing area with a sandy beach and grass for sunbathing.
Located near the village of Bucheben in the upper Rauris valley, another small lake is called Blausee. The Blausee has an area of approximately 0.01 km2 and a depth of 3 m. A landslide gave rise to the Blausee, a natural lake. Hiking and picnicking are popular activities at Blausee, partly due to its beautiful setting and signposted picnic area.
The Schwarzsee, the smallest lake in the Rauris Valley, is located near the village of Bucheben in the upper valley. With 2 m depth and 0.005 km2 surface area, the Schwarzsee is a spring that produces the natural lake called Schwarzsee. The Schwarzsee’s stunning surroundings and diverse bird population make it a popular spot for birdwatching and photography.

Rivers and Streams

Bodies of Water

The rivers and streams that can be found in the vicinity of Rauris are:

With almost 225 km in length and 100 m in width, the Salzach is the main river in the Pinzgau region and runs from south to north. The Salzach is fed by numerous tributaries including the Rauriser Ache, the Gasteener Ache, the Kapruner Ache and the Stubacher Ache. Industry and the local population also depend on Salzach for water and transport.
About 30 km long and 10 m wide, the Rauriser Ache is the main river flowing from west to east in the Rauris valley. Rauriser pain is fed by numerous tributaries, including Seidlwinkler, Kolm-Saigurner, and Krumltaler pain. The Rauriser Ache provides water and energy to industry as well as the local population.
The Seidlwinkler Ache, a tributary of the Rauriser Ache, separates to the south at Wörth. Its length is approximately sixteen kilometers and its width is five meters. The Seidlwinkler Ache is fed by numerous streams, including the Hocharn, Tenn and Glasner streams. The Seidlwinkler Ache provides recreational opportunities and water access to residents as well as visitors.
Consisting of a tributary of the Rauriser Ache, the Kolm-Saigurner Ache extends southeast to Markt Rauris. Its width is three meters and its length is almost eight kilometers. The Kolm-Saigurner Ache receives food from several streams, including the Schareck, Silberpfennig and Sonnblick streams. From the Kolm-Saigurner Ache, locals and visitors can gain historical knowledge as well as water.
With a length of approximately 10 km and a width of 2 m, the Krumltaler Ache is another tributary of the Rauriser Ache. It starts in Bucheben then extends northeast. The Krumltaler Ache is fed by several springs, including the Wiesbachhorn, Dock and Sandkopf streams. The Krumltaler Ache provides water and wildlife for residents and visitors.

Scenic Views

The surroundings of Rauris offer the following breathtaking views:

The Sonnblick Observatory, located on the summit of the 3,106-meter-high Sonnblick, the highest and most prominent peak of the Sonnblick group, offers a stunning perspective of the Sonnblick group, sometimes called the Sonnblick panorama. In the Sonnblick panorama there are the Rauris Valley and the Kolm-Saigurn Valley, as well as Hocharn, Silberpfennig, Schareck and Hohe Riffl. The Sonnblick panorama also has scientific and historical importance, as the Sonnblick observatory is the oldest in the world and is still in use.
From its privileged position on the Großglockner Alpine Road, a beautiful trail leading to the Großglockner and the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Franz-Josefs-Höhe offers a stunning view of the Großglockner, Austria’s highest mountain and the highest point of the Glockner . cluster. The Großglockner view includes the Großes Wiesbachhorn, the Hohe pier, the Kaprun valley, Kleinglockner, Pasterze, the Großglockner view and the Stubach valley. The view of the Großglockner is also a source of inspiration and attraction, as the mountain is magnificent and famous with a distinctive shape and a permanent snow cover.
The Hochalm mountain pasture, located on the northern slope of the 3,122-meter-high Schareck peak, offers a striking perspective of the municipality’s main valley, the Rauris valley. In addition to Lake Rauris, Rauris Glacier, Rauris Valley and Rauriser Ache, the Rauris Valley view includes the Sonnblick, Schareck, Goldberg and Glockner groups. With many trails and slopes, Hochalm is a popular place for skiing and hiking; This way, you can also enjoy the views of the Rauris Valley while having fun and relaxing.