Geography Of Seefeld in Tirol
Situated in the lovely state of Tyrol, Austria, Seefeld in Tirol is a municipality and hamlet within the Innsbruck-Land region. Nestled between the great Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges on a high plateau, the city rises around 1,200 meters.
Leutasch—more especially, the village of Weidach—borders Seefeld to the northwest and Scharnitz, more especially, the village of Gießenbach, borders it to the northeast. It and Zirl’s eastern municipal border follows the arête separating the Seefelder Spitze from the Seefelder Joch. While Reith, found in Auland settlement, is situated to the south, Telfs, in Mösern village, is located to the west.
Situated on the Seefeld Plateau north of the River Inn on the watershed separating the Inn from Isar basin, the settlement is The magnificent Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges round the plains to produce a stunning scene. Nestled inside this beautiful area are also the villages of Leutasch, Reith, Scharnitz, and Mösern. The plateau falls sharply south toward the Inn valley. From Scharnitz, the northward slope brings one to the German border at Mittenwald.
Situated eastward on the slopes of the Alps, Seefeld features two amazing mountain areas ideal for strolling or skiing. These comprise the Rosshütte, named for the outstanding mountain restaurant halfway up, and the Gschwandtkopf, rising at an astounding height of 1,495 meters. From left to right, the notable peaks of Seefelder Joch, Seefelder Spitze (2,215 m), Härmelekopf (2,224 m), and Reither Spitze (2,414 m define the Seefeld Plateau. A wonderful sight is created by the charming onion-domed church The Seekirch and the lovely Gschwandtkopf projection into town. Not far away is the popular bathing lake, Wildsee.
Haglbach’s tributaries start on the eastern edge of the Seefelder Joch. They flow west across Hermannstral then turn south to provide water to the Wildsee from the plateau. The accumulation of Haglbach silt puts the Wildsee under danger. Plans call for building a reservoir east of Innsbrucker Straße to gather these supplies going forward.Following north through Seefeld, the tailstream of the Wildsee gathers the Raabach waters just after passing through the town center. Peter Anich gave this part the Mühlbach name in 1762.
Originally dammed to build the Seekirchl reservoir, the Raabach starts in the southeast close to the Mösern Mähder. Under the Schlossberg close to the Seebach, the Franz Josef Spring was noted in the Directory of Spas of the Imperial-Royal Province of Tyrol and Vorarlberg (Verzeichis der Kurorte und Bäder der K.K. Statthalterei für Tirol und Vorarlberg) in 1900. It was a health spring till 1984.Its radon level, 117 becquerels per liter, is below the 1,000 Bq/L drinking water limit.
On the far side of the Geigenbühel, the Klammbach runs northwest out of the town. It goes beside the 450 m3 reservoir of the Triendlesäge. This reservoir provides 45 kW of small hydropower station capacity. The Drahnbach results from the Klammbach eventually merging with the Seebach in front of the Bodenalm. The later wanders toward Scharnitz and finally meets the tributary of the Isar, the Gießenbach.
Public mains supply the 66,500 m3 capacity reservoir at 1,570 m AA at the Rosshütte (called after the surrounding area and known as the Kaltwassersee). From April to August of 2015, the Blauer Schrofen spring under the Seefelder Spitze also provided water for it. From 100,000 m3 to 165,000 m3 annually, the Kaltwassersee’s used for snowmaking’s water volume rose in 2009.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Village with 3,520 residents |
| Description | Municipality in Innsbruck-Land District, Tyrol, Austria |
| Location | On a plateau between the Wetterstein mountains and the Karwendel |
| Coordinates | 47°19′46″N 11°11′21″E |
| Elevation | 1,521 metres (4,990 feet) |
| Neighbors | Leutasch, Reith, Scharnitz, Inzing, Telfs |
| Notable places | Gschwandtkopf Peak, Seefeld Saddle, Bahnhof Seefeld in Tirol |
Location and boundaries
About 17 kilometers northwest of Innsbruck, the state capital, Seefeld in Tirol is in the northwest portion of Tyrol. Situated on the south-facing Seefeld Plateau, a portion of the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps, the town is From the Inn valley at the Zirler Berg to the border with Germany at Mittenwald, the plateau spans On the western side, the magnificent Wetterstein mountains encircle the plateau; on the southwest, the charming Mieming mountains; on the eastern side, the tough Karwendel mountains. The plateau has breadth of 10 kilometers and a length of about 20 kilometers. Rising an amazing 2,221 meters, the Seefelder Spitze is the highest point of the plateau. near 964 meters, the Scharnitz Pass near the bottom of the plateau is lowest.
Comprising an area of 17.38 square kilometers, the municipality of Seefeld in Tirol boasts 3,440 residents as of 2018. The municipality comprises the little hamlets of Auland, Gschwandt, and Mösern in addition to Seefeld, the core community. From the Seefelder Joch and Seefelder Spitze to the east, the municipal boundary runs following the Leutascher Ache river to the north.The municipality has boundaries to Leutasch to the northwest, Scharnitz to the northeast, Zirl to the east, Reith to the south, and Telfs to the west.
Climate and vegetation
Seefeld in Tirol has a continental climate marked by mild summers and snowy winters. The yearly average temperature is 6.4 °C; the yearly average precipitation comes to 1,066 mm. With an average temperature of 15.2 °C, July is the warmest month; January ranks lowest among the months for coldest average temperature at -2.9 °C. With an average precipitation of 137mm August is the wettest month; February is the driest month with an average of 60 mm.
Seefeld in Tirol boasts remarkably varied and plentiful vegetation, including a great spectrum of trees and plants suited for all altitudes and ecosystems. Meadows and pastures define the lower portions of the plateau; sporadic areas of deciduous forests mostly composed of maple, birch, and beech trees abound here. Higher parts of the plateau are marked by coniferous forests, mostly made of spruce, fir, and pine trees. Along with rocky outcrops and scree slopes, alpine grasslands and heaths define the highest points on the plateau. Commonly found in the area are various flowers and plants like thyme, arnica, gentian, edelweiss, alpine rose.
Hydrology and geology
With a varied and complex hydrology including a large network of rivers, streams, lakes, and springs draining the plateau and the surrounding mountains, Seefeld in Tirol Originating from the Leutasch valley and running across the northern portion of the plateau, the Leutascher Ache is the main river in the area and shapes the border with Germany near Mittenwald. A tributary of the Isar river, the Leutascher Ache finally flows into the Danube. Several main streams define the area: the Lähnbach, the Gießenbach, and the Drahnbach. Originally rising in the Karwendel mountains, these rivers run east across the plateau until finally joining the Inn river near Zirl. Among the various lovely lakes in the area are the Lottensee, Möserer See, and Wildsee. Nestled in the central and western portion of the plateau, these lakes are fed surface runoff as well as groundwater. Several springs bless the area: the Speckbrunnquelle, the Katzenbrunnquelle, and the Brunnentalsquelle. Found near the southernmost point of the plateau, these springs are well known for their medicinal and mineral qualities.
With a remarkable and varied geology, Seefeld in Tirol shows a wonderful mix of rocks and minerals that eloquently capture the rich geological past and processes of the area. Among the several rock types found in the area are limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone. These rocks from the Mesozoic era’s Triassic and Jurassic periods span. Mostly limestone and dolomite, the Karwendel mountains and plateau These rocks are unique in their white and gray tones as well as in their karst features—caves, sinkholes, and fissures. Comprising dramatic black and reddish tones and a schistose, readily broken texture, the shale and sandstone form the basis of the Wetterstein and Mieming mountains. Calcite, quartz, feldspar, and mica are just a few of the several mineral kinds abound in the area. Crystals, veins, and layers are among the several forms and shapes these minerals can take. One especially valuable mineral found in this area is Tyrolean shale oil. People have been obtaining this oil from the shale layers for millennia, discovering innumerable uses for it including fuel, lubrication, even medicine.
Topography
Situated on the south-facing Seefeld Plateau north of the River Inn on the watershed separating the Inn from the Isar, the settlement is The magnificent Wetterstein mountain range on the west and the Karwendel mountain range on the east round the plateau comprising the towns of Leutasch, Reith, Scharnitz, and Mösern. It falls precipitously into the Inn valley southward. From the high valley to the north, Scharnitz settlement follows the border with Germany at Mittenwald.
There are two main mountain ranges in the Seefeld region suitable for outdoor pursuits including skiing or strolling. One is the 1,495-meter softly rounded hill known as Gschwandtkopf. The other is on the eastern slopes of the Alps and is known as the Rosshütte, after the well-known mountain restaurant midway up. These enormous mountains predominate on the Seefeld Plateau. From left to right they are the Seefelder Joch, Seefelder Spitze (2,215 m), Härmelekopf (2,224 m), and Reither Spitze (2,474 m). Other sites of note are the Pfarrhügel, a lovely hill rising from the Gschwandtkopf into the town center, and the Seekirchl, a little church with an onion-shaped dome. One well-known bathing lake drawing many of visitors is the Wildsee.
Lakes and streams
The Haglbach’s tributaries call the eastern side of the Seefelder Joch home. Before turning south upon arriving on the plateau, these streams run west through the gorgeous valley of Hermannstal. They tend the lovely Wildsee at the municipal border. The accumulation of silt from the Haglbach poses a major threat to the Wildsee. Future plans call for a reservoir east of Innsbrucker Straße to gather these sediments.Originally the tailstream of the Wildsee, the Seebach runs northerly through Seefeld and joins the Raabach right after the village core. In 1762 Peter Anich dubbed this part the “Mühlbach”.
The way this material is presented emphasizes how the Raabach originated in the southeast close to the Mösern Mähder. It also notes the historical relevance of the constructed reservoir, which finally resulted in the name of the church of Seekirchl. Under the Schlossberg, close to the Seebach, sits a radon-containing spring. First documented in 1900 in the Directory of Spas of the Imperial-Royal Province of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, this spring was known as Franz Josef Spring. It served as a health spring till 1984.The author of the book writes rather effectively.With 117 becquerels per litre, the radon content is rather low—much below the guideline for drinking water, 1,000 Bq/L.
Starting in the Wildmoosalm close to Wildmoossee, the Klammbach runs along the village’s edges past the Geigenbühel. It keeps on until it reaches the Triendlsäge, where a 450 m³ reservoir provides a tiny hydropower station producing 45 kW. Eventually it forms the Drahnbach by joining with the Seebach close to the Lehenwald woodlands in front of the Bodenalm. The later wanders toward Scharnitz and finally joins the Gießenbach, a tributary of the Isar.
The Kaltwassersee is the reservoir close to the Rosshütte at 1,570 m above sea level (AA). Its 66,500 m³ capacity is met with public mains water supply. It was also provided in 2015 by the Blauer Schrofen spring beneath the Seefelder Spitze between April and August. From 100,000 m¹ in 2009 to 165,000 m¹ annually, the Kaltwassersee’s water consumption for snowmaking rose.
