High Tauern National Park

The High Tauern National Park (Nationalpark Hohe Tauern), the largest national park of Middle Europe, includes parts of the central Alpine devide of the Eastern Alps in the area of the High Tauern mountain range. In its centre, there are some of the highest mountains of Austria, such as Mt. Grossglockner (3,798 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Grossvenediger (3,666 m a.s.l.). Outer areas are mainly characterised by alpine pastures and meadows that are rich in species.

Representers of the world of animals and plants are the lammergeier, the Alpine salamander, the Bouquetin, as well as the glacier buttercup and the willow. Some of the most popular places in the national park, however, are - in East Tyrol - the Umbal Waterfalls, the Glacial Educational Path Innergschlöss in Matrei in Osttirol, and - out of Tyrol - the Krimml Waterfalls, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, and the astronomical observatory in Königsleiten. The national park features three visitors' centres: the one in Matrei, the one in Bios, and the Mittersill Nature Park Centre with its "National Park Worlds" which make you hover above some of its most beautiful sceneries.

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Founded in: 1981
Surface: 1,836 sqkm

Peculiarities: the only wildlife Eurasian griffon population of the East Alps, the largest self-contained Swiss pine tree forest of the East Alps, the first water educational trail of Europe

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