Berchtesgaden Alps

The Berchtesgaden Alps (German: Berchtesgadener Alpen) are a mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps, named after the market town of Berchtesgaden located in the centre. The central part belongs to the Berchtesgadener Land district of southeastern Bavaria, Germany, while the adjacent area in the north, east and south is part of the Austrian state of Salzburg (Salzburger Land).

Berchtesgaden Alps
The Hochkönig from the south
Highest point
PeakHochkönig
Elevation2,941 m (9,649 ft)
Coordinates47°25′13″N 13°3′45″E
Dimensions
Length45 km (28 mi)
Area1,089.0 km2 (420.5 sq mi)
Geography
CountriesGermany and Austria
StatesBavaria and Salzburg
Parent rangeNorthern Limestone Alps
Northern Salzburg Alps
Geology
Age of rockTriassic
Type of rockWetterstein limestone, Ramsau dolomite and Dachstein limestone

Geography

Mountains and lakes

Obersee (Königssee)

While the highest mountain of the Berchtesgaden Alps is the Hochkönig (2,941 metres (9,649 ft)) located in the Austrian part, the best known peak is the Watzmann massif, the third-highest mountain of Germany at 2,713 metres (8,901 ft). The range also comprises the Obersalzberg slope east of Berchtesgaden, known for the former Berghof residence of Adolf Hitler. The picturesque heart is formed by the glacial Königssee lake with the famous St. Bartholomew's pilgrimage church and the smaller Obersee, both part of the Berchtesgaden National Park established in 1978. The range also comprises glaciers like the Blaueis as well as the Steinernes Meer high karst plateau.

Peaks

Massifs and peaks of the Berchtesgaden Alps
View of the Watzmann and Hochkalter from the Kehlsteinhaus

The most important summits of the Berchtesgaden Alps are (groups in order of height):

Boundaries and neighbouring groups

Berchtesgaden Alps from 10,000 m

The Berchtesgaden Alps border on the following other mountain groups of the Alps:

The Berchtesgaden Alps are included under this name in the generally accepted Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps (AVE) as mountain group no. 10 and counted as part of the Northern Limestone Alps.

Literature

  • Heinrich Bauregger: Berchtesgadener Land, Rother Wanderführer, Bergverlag Rother, Munich, ISBN 978-3-7633-4226-6
  • Bernhard Kühnhauser: Berchtesgadener Alpen, Rother Alpenvereinsführer alpin, Bergverlag Rother, Munich, ISBN 978-3-7633-1127-9 appeared in October 8

References

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